One of artist Hasegawa Kiyoshi’s neighbors at his atelier in Paris kept many small birds as pets, and this work stemmed from his desire to capture in an artwork these tiny creatures who seemed to have such affinity for human beings.
The metal and glass paperweights are things that would normally be used to keep notes filled with precious contemplations from blowing away. But there is no writing on this paper, just flowers and seeds. Perhaps the precious contemplations here pertain to the mysteries of nature. On top of the glass paperweight stands a small bird that itself is part of nature, and which Hasegawa saw as a symbol of his own spirit.
The companion work, No. 2, shows a chess board, dominoes, and playing cards, which symbolize human wisdom, and it also has a small bird that faces the bird in this work. As a pair, they give a sense of the printmaker’s view of the universe.
(SAKAMOTO Kyoko)
One of artist Hasegawa Kiyoshi’s neighbors at his atelier in Paris kept many small birds as pets, and this work stemmed from his desire to capture in an artwork these tiny creatures who seemed to have such affinity for human beings.
The metal and glass paperweights are things that would normally be used to keep notes filled with precious contemplations from blowing away. But there is no writing on this paper, just flowers and seeds. Perhaps the precious contemplations here pertain to the mysteries of nature. On top of the glass paperweight stands a small bird that itself is part of nature, and which Hasegawa saw as a symbol of his own spirit.
The companion work, No. 2, shows a chess board, dominoes, and playing cards, which symbolize human wisdom, and it also has a small bird that faces the bird in this work. As a pair, they give a sense of the printmaker’s view of the universe.
(SAKAMOTO Kyoko)