Cod and Gurnard c. 1830s

Editor: Right now, we're looking at "Cod and Gurnard", a woodblock print from the 1830s by Utagawa Hiroshige, currently housed in the Minneapolis Institute of Art. I'm immediately struck by the bright, almost artificial, colours. They create a flat, graphic feel. What do you see in this piece, beyond just fish for dinner? Curator: Beyond the obvious, I find myself drawn to the interplay between the mundane and the magical. These aren't just fish; they're rendered with a kind of reverence, almost like specimens in a scientific illustration. Except there's a looseness to the line work, a playful dance in the arrangement, that hints at something deeper. Have you noticed how the bamboo leaves seem to both bind and release the fish? Editor: That’s an interesting point! It's like they’re simultaneously offering and containing the fish. Curator: Exactly! Think about it: In ukiyo-e, everyday objects are often imbued with symbolic meaning. Fish, especially, can represent prosperity or good fortune. But there's also a quiet melancholy here, a reminder of life's fleeting beauty. I wonder, does the image evoke similar reflections in you? Editor: I think you’re right. The limited colour palette combined with very graphic shapes gives it a serene but unsettling feeling. This is a world far removed from our screens and the internet, an alternate dimension made of calm contemplation. Curator: Precisely! I think it asks us to pause and to notice the world around us in unexpected ways, to savour life’s simple beauty, before it’s served for supper, or fades into nothing. A worthwhile exercise! Editor: A totally unique interpretation of the "still life," I would say. Thanks for sharing your perspective.