“Onna sanju-rokkasen”
by Hosoda Eishi (1756–1829); Katsushika Hokusai
(frontispiece only) (1760–1849); Japan, Edo Period, 1801; Woodblock
printed; ink and color on paper; H x W x D: 25.1 x 18.7 x 1.9 cm.
Purchase - The Gerhard Pulverer Collection, Museum funds, Friends of the
Freer and Sackler Galleries and the Harold P. Stern Memorial fund in
appreciation of Jeffrey P. Cunard and his exemplary service to the
Galleries as chair of the Board of Trustees (2003–2007). Freer Gallery
of Art Study Collection FSC-GR-780.99.1-2.
Back in the day—in the Edo Period (1615-1868), that
is—samurai and salaryman alike had no smartphones or Gameboys to keep
themselves entertained on a long commute. Instead, people of all strata
of society were avid readers of “ehon,” illustrated books on every
subject imaginable. Artists such as Hosoda Eishi and Katsushika Hokusai,
who created the elegant frontispiece to “Onna sanju-rokkasen,” shown
here, and “Hokusai's manga” are among the major names who found glory
through this new form of communication.
And this year, you can also enjoy the first exhibition of these works since the Smithsonian acquired the Gerhard Pulverer Collection of Japanese illustrated books in 2007. But don't despair if you can't make the trip. The digitization of the entire Pulverer collection is now in process. When the online catalog is complete, it will make available cover-to-cover images and detailed data on every book in the collection. This massive effort is being made with the support of the Getty Online Scholarly Catalogue Initiative and the Anne van Biema Endowment Fund.
Gerhard Pulverer, a renowned German medical researcher, for over 30 years collected rare first editions and other works that remain in pristine condition—a major feat considering some older books were printed on fragile Japanese paper. The collection includes some of the Edo's most famous illustrated tomes and comprises 936 titles in nearly 2,200 volumes. They date from the early 17th century to the 1970s.
With the advent of the woodblock press, ehon quickly evolved into a popular mode of both artistic production and commercial trade. The new type of book production meant that ordinary people, not just the wealthy, could afford these paper books. Although the people were strictly controlled by the ruling Tokugawa Shogunate, its merchants and artisans nonetheless found an outlet for creativity in publishing.
“Ehon Sumidagawa ryōgan ichiran, vol 2”
by Katsushika Hokusai (1760–1849); Japan, Edo
Period, ca. 1805; Woodblock printed; ink and color on paper; paper
covers; H x W x D (Vols. 1-3 each): 26.5 x 18.3 x 0.4 cm. Purchase - The
Gerhard Pulverer Collection, Museum funds, Friends of the Freer and
Sackler Galleries and the Harold P. Stern Memorial fund in appreciation
of Jeffrey P. Cunard and his exemplary service to the Galleries as chair
of the Board of Trustees (2003–2007). Freer Gallery of Art Study
Collection FSC-GR-780.230.2.
“Odori hitori geiko” (dance instruction manual)
by Katsushika Hokusai (1760–1849); Japan, Edo
Period, 1815; Woodblock printed; ink on paper; H x W x D: 18.5 x 12.5 x
0.9 cm. Purchase - The Gerhard Pulverer Collection, Museum funds,
Friends of the Freer and Sackler Galleries and the Harold P. Stern
Memorial fund in appreciation of Jeffrey P. Cunard and his exemplary
service to the Galleries as chair of the Board of Trustees (2003–2007);
Freer Gallery of Art Study Collection FSC-GR-780.222.
Another remarkable work in the Pulverer collection is the second volume of “Ehon Sumidagawa ryōgan ichiran,” a book of colorful works by Hokusai. In this example, spread over two pages, people struggle with umbrellas as they cross a curved wooden bridge on the Sumida River in the rain. The contrasting yellows and reds have retained an amazing brilliance despite the centuries that have passed since its printing.
Hokusai also created the famed “One Hundred Views of Mount Fuji.” On view from Pulverer's collection is a pristine copy of a book featuring those views. Here we have an ink drawing of the reflected mountain in the waters of a lake, with nesting geese.
The exhibition is arranged much like a bookshop, with sections devoted to genres such as travel, nature studies, literature, design books and even “how-to” instruction manuals. One highlight is Utamaro's “Shell book” (Shiohi no tsuto), a gorgeous poetry book.
The start of the exhibition coincides with Washington's annual National Cherry Blossom Festival, making this a perfect time to immerse in the romance and beauty of the Edo Period. The festival includes workshops, lectures, children's programs and a design festival.
The Arthur M. Sackler Gallery and the adjacent Freer Gallery of Art are on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. every day (closed Dec. 25), and admission is free. For more information, visit http://asia.si.edu/exhibitions/current/pulverer.asp.
“Fugaku hyakkei” (One Hundred Views of Mount Fuji), vol. 1
by Katsushika Hokusai (1760–1849); Japan, Edo
Period, 1834; Woodblock printed; ink on paper; H x W x D: 22.9 x 15.8 x 1
cm. Purchase - The Gerhard Pulverer Collection, Museum funds, Friends
of the Freer and Sackler Galleries and the Harold P. Stern Memorial fund
in appreciation of Jeffrey P. Cunard and his exemplary service to the
Galleries as chair of the Board of Trustees (2003–2007); Freer Gallery
of Art Study Collection FSC-GR-780.246.1.
沒有留言:
張貼留言