cr KitagawaUtamaro-MidnightTheHourOfTheRat Kitagawa Utamaro
Kitagawa Utamaro – cr KitagawaUtamaro-MidnightTheHourOfTheRat
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JAPANESE MOTIFS
1
Gazing into the rock garden – a model
Of existence, or perhaps the universe.
Next to it, a quiet house made of paper,
Where contemplation is its own goal.
The fruits of the tea ceremony are:
A quiet look within, a poem.
You will hear a haiku about water –
As if time itself were stopping.
2
The samurais back armor,
Its pattern intricate and refined,
And two swords, and such a life,
Where there is no pain, no groan imaginable.
Having offered hospitality to all, having prepared everything,
He will open his own belly.
Here on the floor are stains of blood,
And silently, the samurai will die.
3
The cherry blossoms bloom in poems.
Yellow wine slumbers in a glass.
4
A Tokyo avalanche will crash down
Upon you with all its colorful advertising.
You are stifled in the tangle of movement,
Yet you move straight ahead.
A whistling, buzzing movement.
Hectares rise upwards, made of glass.
The past versus change –
How attractive are these changes to us?
There is something – a charm
In this bustling, colorful metropolis.
Suddenly – a parting from yourself,
Lost… but humming at your waist
Is the mobile phone...
5
Properly warmed sake,
Fried eel on rice nearby.
Will you hold the chopsticks in your hand,
Understanding the all-Japanese flavor?
Oh, there is another harmony of food here,
Strange rows of tastes.
But dont try fugu fish, friend,
You took it – and death suddenly overtook you at the table.
6
The branches are bent, they resemble
Hieroglyphs.
Past and present days
Connect into something
Unified by the memory of text. Hieroglyphs
Are wonderfully curved with ink.
And here is a little man with a forked gesture.
7
A pond with golden fish,
With snails on the banks,
And the snails seem to be smiling,
Dissolved later in poems.
You cannot comment Why?
The child appears asleep, its face partially obscured by the woman’s hand, creating a sense of vulnerability and protection. The infants small feet are visible at the bottom of the frame, adding a touch of realism to the otherwise idealized portrayal.
The color palette is restrained, relying on soft pinks, creams, and browns that contribute to the overall feeling of tranquility and warmth. The use of flat planes and simplified forms is characteristic of the artistic style, prioritizing decorative effect over strict naturalism.
Subtleties within the image suggest a deeper narrative. The hour of the rat, alluded to in the title (though not explicitly visible), traditionally signifies a time of vulnerability and potential danger. This context imbues the scene with an undercurrent of anxiety, contrasting with the apparent serenity of the mother-child interaction. It could be interpreted as a commentary on the precariousness of life or the responsibilities inherent in motherhood within a specific cultural framework. The woman’s gaze is directed downwards, suggesting introspection and perhaps a quiet awareness of these underlying concerns.
The patterned background serves not merely as decoration but also as a visual metaphor for the intricate social structures that shape the lives of both mother and child. It creates a sense of enclosure, hinting at the constraints and expectations placed upon women in this society. The overall effect is one of poignant beauty tempered by an awareness of underlying complexities.