Idyllic Vision: The Modern Japanese Landscape

Exhibition

Exhibition Overview

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Idyllic Vision: The Modern Japanese Landscape
Alison Miller, curator
November 26, 2007–February 3, 2008
Asia Gallery, Spencer Museum of Art, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas

This exhibition examines Japanese landscape prints of the Taishô (1912-1926) and early Shôwa (1926-1989) periods. Set against the reality of early twentieth century Japanese industrialization and modernity, Shin-hanga, or “new prints,” presented an idyllic and timeless vision of the Japanese landscape. These prints portrayed an under-populated and traditional landscape in a time when many Japanese were living in cities and facing issues of modern life. The exhibition is intended to address issues of place, identity, and modernity in the context of early twentieth century Japan, as well as the growing sentiment of nationalism and how the concept of place relates to the idea of nation.

This exhibition was organized by guest curator Alison Miller, KU graduate student in art history.

Exhibition images

Works of art

Customs and Manners of the Evening, Yamamoto Shōun
Yamamoto Shōun
Customs and Manners of the Evening, circa 1910–1925, Meiji period (1868–1912) or Taisho period (1912–1926)
Pine Tree at Karasaki, Hasegawa Takejirō; Yoshimoto Gesso
Hasegawa Takejirō; Yoshimoto Gesso
Pine Tree at Karasaki, 1915–1920, Taisho period (1912–1926)
High Bridge by Night, Hasegawa Takejirō; Kobayashi Eijirō
Hasegawa Takejirō; Kobayashi Eijirō
High Bridge by Night, 1915–1920, Taisho period (1912–1926)
Early Autumn at Itako, Kawase Hasui
Kawase Hasui
Early Autumn at Itako, 1942, Showa period (1926–1989)
#11 Hakone Kosui no zu (View of Lake at Hakone), Utagawa Hiroshige
Utagawa Hiroshige
#11 Hakone Kosui no zu (View of Lake at Hakone), 1833–1834, Edo period (1600–1868)
#9 Ōiso: Shigitatsusawa saigyōan (Oiso: The Poet Monk Saigyo's Hut at the Shigitatsu Marsh), Utagawa Hiroshige
Utagawa Hiroshige
Glittering Sea (Seto Inland Sea), Yoshida Hiroshi
Yoshida Hiroshi
Glittering Sea (Seto Inland Sea), 1926, Showa period (1926–1989)
Bamboo Wood, Yoshida Hiroshi
Yoshida Hiroshi
Bamboo Wood, 1939, Showa period (1926–1989)
Plum Gateway, Yoshida Hiroshi
Yoshida Hiroshi
Plum Gateway, 1935, Showa period (1926–1989)
Misty Day in Nikkō, Yoshida Hiroshi
Yoshida Hiroshi
Misty Day in Nikkō, 1937, Showa period (1926–1989)
Ikarugadera Temple in Early Autumn, Hiratsuka Unichi
Hiratsuka Unichi
Ikarugadera Temple in Early Autumn, 1942, Showa period (1926–1989)
Hida Kamagatake, Kawase Hasui
Kawase Hasui
Hida Kamagatake, 1933, Showa period (1926–1989)
Mt. Fuji from Mizukubo, Takahashi Shōtei
Takahashi Shōtei
Mt. Fuji from Mizukubo, circa 1938, Showa period (1926–1989)
Moon at Magome, Kawase Hasui
Kawase Hasui
Moon at Magome, 1930, Showa period (1926–1989)
Nikko futatsudo (Two Temple Buildings at Nikko), Kawase Hasui
Kawase Hasui
Nikko futatsudo (Two Temple Buildings at Nikko), 1929, Showa period (1926–1989)
Fuji-san from Yamanaka, Yoshida Hiroshi
Yoshida Hiroshi
Fuji-san from Yamanaka, 1936, Showa period (1926–1989)
Nissaka (The New Tokaido), Sekino Junichirō
Sekino Junichirō
Nissaka (The New Tokaido), 1960, Showa period (1926–1989)
Kyōto, Chion-in, Kawase Hasui
Kawase Hasui
Kyōto, Chion-in, 1933, Showa period (1926–1989)
Karasaki no matsu 唐崎の松 (Pine at Karasaki), Itō Shinsui
Itō Shinsui
Karasaki no matsu 唐崎の松 (Pine at Karasaki), May 1918, Taisho period (1912–1926)
Moon over Enoura, Kawase Hasui
Kawase Hasui
Moon over Enoura, 1939, 1st month, Showa period (1926–1989)
Rainy Season at Kinokunizaka, Kasamatsu Shirō
Kasamatsu Shirō
Rainy Season at Kinokunizaka, 1938, Showa period (1926–1989)
Mountain Temple in Rain--Yamato Tsubosaka-dera, Kasamatsu Shirō
Kasamatsu Shirō
Mountain Temple in Rain--Yamato Tsubosaka-dera, 1950, Showa period (1926–1989)
Evening Sky--Suwa Shrine, Nippori, Kasamatsu Shirō
Kasamatsu Shirō
Evening Sky--Suwa Shrine, Nippori, 1932, Showa period (1926–1989)
Rinnoji Garden, Yoshida Tōshi
Yoshida Tōshi
Rinnoji Garden, 1941, Showa period (1926–1989)
Twilight at Tasogare, Takahashi Shōtei
Takahashi Shōtei
Twilight at Tasogare, late 1910s, Taisho period (1912–1926)
Snow at Asakusa, Takahashi Shōtei
Takahashi Shōtei
Snow at Asakusa, circa 1920s, Taisho period (1912–1926) or Showa period (1926–1989)
#49 Sakanoshita gankutsu no Kannon (Cave shrine of Kannon at Sakanoshita), Utagawa Hiroshige
Utagawa Hiroshige
Small town in Japan, Yoshida Hiroshi
Yoshida Hiroshi
Small town in Japan, 1933, Showa period (1926–1989)
Suzukawa [Mt.Fuji from the Suzu River], Yoshida Hiroshi
Yoshida Hiroshi
Suzukawa [Mt.Fuji from the Suzu River], 1935, Showa period (1926–1989)
Three Little Islands, Yoshida Hiroshi
Yoshida Hiroshi
Three Little Islands, 1930, Showa period (1926–1989)
Senzoku no Ike (Snow on Senzoku Pond), Kawase Hasui
Kawase Hasui
Senzoku no Ike (Snow on Senzoku Pond), 1928, Showa period (1926–1989)
Shiba Onshi Koen (Onshi Park, Shiba, Tokyo), Kawase Hasui
Kawase Hasui
Shiba Onshi Koen (Onshi Park, Shiba, Tokyo), 1937, 12th month, Showa period (1926–1989)
Suma Beach, Arai Yoshimune; Hasegawa Takejirō
Arai Yoshimune; Hasegawa Takejirō
Suma Beach, 1915–1920, Taisho period (1912–1926)
Shirasagi Castle, Yoshida Tōshi
Yoshida Tōshi
Shirasagi Castle, 1942, Showa period (1926–1989)
The Road in Winter, Nagai Kiyoshi
Nagai Kiyoshi
The Road in Winter, 1972, Showa period (1926–1989)
Garden in the Early Spring, Nagai Kiyoshi
Nagai Kiyoshi
Garden in the Early Spring, 1972, Showa period (1926–1989)
Woman Seated by a Stream, Nakamura Daizaburō
Nakamura Daizaburō
Snow Scene, Konoshima Ōkoku
Konoshima Ōkoku
Snow Scene, late 1800s–early 1900s, Meiji period (1868–1912) or Taisho period (1912–1926)
woman's outer kimono (uchikake)
Konoshima Ōkoku
woman's outer kimono (uchikake), circa 1953, Showa period (1926–1989)

Events

December 1, 2007
Workshop
Modern Japanese Landscapes

Resources

Audio

Didactic – Art Minute
Didactic – Art Minute