from the illustrated book "Kachō gaden" 

Editor: This is an image from the illustrated book "Kachō gaden" by Katsushika Taito II, currently at the Harvard Art Museums. It depicts a hawk attacking a rabbit. The intensity is palpable! What strikes you about this work? Curator: Well, consider the historical context. Bird-and-flower painting, kacho-ga, wasn't just about aesthetics. It was often deeply intertwined with social and political messaging. What do you think this predator-prey dynamic might symbolize to its original audience? Editor: Maybe a commentary on power structures? The hawk representing authority, the rabbit representing the vulnerable? Curator: Precisely! And think about the role of illustrated books in disseminating such ideas. They were a readily accessible medium for shaping public perception. Notice how the composition forces us to confront this harsh reality. Do you think this imagery would have been received differently depending on social class? Editor: Definitely. It's fascinating how a seemingly simple image can reflect such complex social dynamics. Curator: Indeed. Art serves as a mirror reflecting our collective values and power dynamics.