Wegvliegende vogel bij klimplant met roze bloemen 1892

Matsumura Keibun created this print depicting a bird in flight near a climbing plant with pink flowers. The bird, a symbol often associated with freedom and transcendence, is captured mid-flight, an image that has traversed cultures, echoing through ancient Egyptian depictions of the soul as a bird, Ba, taking flight after death. Consider the enduring motif of the ‘flight of the soul’ in diverse traditions. In some contexts it represents aspirations or escapes; and in others, a more literal spiritual journey. This print also presents the climbing plant, here intertwined with delicate pink flowers. These symbolize growth, connection, and the cyclical nature of life. Similar motifs appear in the vibrant tendrils of the Art Nouveau movement, embodying the subconscious desires and anxieties of a rapidly changing world. In Keibun’s print, these plants and the bird in flight are not merely aesthetic elements, but are charged with a psychological and spiritual weight, reflecting our deep-seated longing for liberation and harmony with nature. As we engage with this image, we see how symbols of flight and nature continue to resonate, reflecting our collective psyche across time.