An artwork on Galleree from Minneapolis Institute of Art.
About the artwork
Wisteria Maiden and Demon Priestc. 1872
Artist: Kawanabe Kyōsai
Japanese, 1831 - 1889
woman in multi-colored kimono standing on back of demon figure who is on all fours; the woman is reaching up into a tree
43 1/8 × 13 3/8 in. (109.54 × 33.97 cm) (image)
77 3/8 × 18 in. (196.53 × 45.72 cm) (mount)
78 3/4 × 20 1/8 × 2 in. (200.03 × 51.12 × 5.08 cm) (mount, with roller)
Hanging scroll; ink and color on silk
hanging scroll
Japan
19th century
Gift of the Clark Center for Japanese Art & Culture; formerly acquired by the Center in honor of Fred and Joan Baekeland
In an enchanting world where storytelling dances through every corner and echoes in every brushstroke, a peculiar scene unfolds. Imagine a vibrant canvas, alive with colors that almost sing. In this space, beauty and beast find their coexistence, not merely in their forms but in the tales they tell.
At the forefront stands the Wisteria Maiden, her delicate figure poised with grace. She reaches upward, her fingers gently grasping a slender branch adorned with cascading clusters of wisteria. Each bloom, a gentle whisper of nature's allure, seems to beckon her, promising secrets woven into its petals. The atmosphere is thick with possibilities, and yet, woven through it all is a dash of irony.
Beneath her, a demon priest bows low, reduced to nothing more than an ornate footstool. His features are comical, exaggerated, as though the artist wanted to play with our expectations of beauty and monstrosity. His eyes, wide with rapture, reveal a juxtaposition that stirs reflection; he gazes up at the maiden’s beauty, utterly entranced, yet utterly dismissed.
As the Wisteria Maiden continues to pluck the flora above, she appears unfazed by his delight, embodying a serene confidence that contrasts starkly with his exaggerated yearning. In this moment, beauty reigns, simultaneously cherished and disregarded, while the essence of the beast—though visually striking—surnames a silent submissiveness.
It's a story of contrasting emotions painted onto a simple tableau, urging us to introspect: How often do we overlook the reverence in what we deem less beautiful? What stirs in us when we witness such mismatched power? Each detail challenges our perceptions, inviting us to marvel at the richly layered narratives behind a single image—where beauty meets the beast in a dance of irony and longing.
About the artist
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