The exhibition selected from the permanent collection is on view from Sept.6~Oct.2, 2022.
It includes Japanese paintings and woodblock prints from the 17th to the early 20th centuries by Soganonichokuan(曾我二直庵), OKAMOTO Shuki(岡本秋暉), GAN Tai(岸岱) and so on under the theme of "Assortment of Birds and Insects", and by YOSHU Chikanobu(楊洲 周延), TOYOHARA Kunichika (豊原国周)（KOBAYASHI Kiyochika(小林清親), TSUKIOKA Yoshinobu(月岡芳年) under the theme of "Prints of beauties in the Meiji Era".
⁂Prints of beauties in the Meiji Era"
Here are some.
The title of the woodblock print above is "Illustrations for Women's Modern Hair Styles" by YOSHU Chikanobu 揚州周延(1838〜1912).
In the early Meiji era, men were encouraged to cut the topknot(髷), while wemen were not allowed to change their traditional hair styles.
You can imagin how much women got delighted at western hair styles in western clothes when they were allowed in 1883( Meiji16).
It was published in 1887(Meiji20).
The title of the woodblock print is "Beauty of the east - Fountain in Asakusa Park" by YOSHU Chikanobu 揚州周延(1838〜1912).
Chikanobu masterly utilized the contrast between Nishikie(錦絵) style and shin-hanga(新版画) style which looked like a watercolor painting to depict the beauty and the fountain respectively.
It was published in 1904(Meiji37).
Nishikie was a multicolored print which SUZUKI Harunobu (1725?〜1777 ) first produced in 1765, and was gained high popularity among citizens all through the Edo era due to the beautiful colors and fine printings.
About shinhanga( 新版画), please refer to the special edition (2) on this blog.
The title of the woodblock print above is "Secret Talk" by TOYOHARA Kunichika 豊原国周(1835〜 1900). Kunichika depicted two curious courtesans. The senior might be telling the other a top secret matter in the house.
It was published in 1893 (Meiji26).
⁂Prints of "Assortment of Birds and Insects".
The title of the hanging scroll made of silk cloth above is "Flock of Butterflies"by GAN Tai 岸岱(1785～1865). Tai learned techniques of depicting butterflies by copying the specimens which AIBA Bunzan合葉文山(1797〜1817) collected.
⁂Special Edition (2)： OHARA Koson (小原古邨)
Please visit my previous blog on the special edition (1) posted on Aug.18, 2022.
OHARA Koson （1877～1945) was one of the prominent artists in Shin-hanga (新版画) movement which revitalized the traditional ukiyo-e and flourished in early 20th century, during the Taisho and Showa periods. Since Japonism swept away in late 19th century in Europe and the US, Shin-hanga prints attracted many people overseas.
Koson depicted living creatures in the realistic style, which appealed to the Western taste. Most works are now housed overseas at British Museum, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and so on.
Here are some depicting autumn and winter.
The title of the woodblock print above is "Waxwings(緋連雀 )" and published around 1867~1912(Meiji era) by a publisher AKIYAMA Buemon(秋山武右衛門).
The two waxwings were depicted in detailes, while the background was simply drawn with
ink.
The title of the woodblock print is "Mallard Duck 真鴨" and published around 1867~1912(Meiji era) by a publisher AKIYAMA Buemon(秋山武右衛門).
Koson depicted a male mallard duck stretching its wings in the snowy season.
The prints depicting birds as a Japanese image were highly valued overseas.
The title of the woodblock print above is "Temple with a Rainbow" published in the late Meiji era. According to a document, Koson depicted Sensoji (浅草寺) in Tokyo.
Special Edition ： MINAMI Keiko
Special Edition ： AKIOKA Miho
More about Chiba City Museum of Art: please access https://www.tokyo2020chiba.com/post/shall-we-see-the-museum
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