Dragon 1909 - 1910

Kamisaka Sekka rendered this dragon, a potent symbol in Japanese art, without specifying the exact date. The dragon, with its piercing eyes and formidable claws, appears to loom out of the dark void, embodying power and mystery. The dragon motif courses through time, evolving yet retaining its primal essence. In ancient Greece, similar serpentine creatures guarded treasures and sacred spaces, their forms echoing the chaos and untamed forces of nature. As cultures interacted, this image migrated, transforming into the benevolent, wise dragons of the East, who controlled the waters and weather, emblems of imperial power. Consider the psychological weight of this enduring symbol. The dragon taps into our collective unconscious, stirring deep-seated fears and awe. It represents the untamed aspects of our own psyches, capable of both creation and destruction. Sekka's dragon is not merely a decorative figure; it is a vessel of cultural memory, a powerful reminder of the archetypal forces that continue to shape our perceptions. Thus, the dragon endures, a testament to the cyclical nature of cultural symbols, constantly re-emerging in new forms, each bearing the echoes of its storied past.