Idyllic Vision: The Modern Japanese Landscape

Exhibition

Exhibition Overview

Idyllic Vision: The Modern Japanese Landscape
Idyllic Vision: The Modern Japanese Landscape
Alison Miller, curator
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

Yamamoto Shōun (1870–1965), Customs and Manners of the Evening
circa 1910–1925, Meiji period (1868–1912) or Taisho period (1912–1926)
Hasegawa Takejirō (1853–1938); Yoshimoto Gesso (1881–1936), Pine Tree at Karasaki
1915–1920, Taisho period (1912–1926)
Hasegawa Takejirō (1853–1938); Kobayashi Eijirō, High Bridge by Night
1915–1920, Taisho period (1912–1926)
Kawase Hasui (1883–1957), Early Autumn at Itako
1942, Showa period (1926–1989)
Yoshida Hiroshi (1876–1950), Glittering Sea (Seto Inland Sea)
1926, Showa period (1926–1989)
Yoshida Hiroshi (1876–1950), Bamboo Wood
1939, Showa period (1926–1989)
Yoshida Hiroshi (1876–1950), Plum Gateway
1935, Showa period (1926–1989)
Yoshida Hiroshi (1876–1950), Misty Day in Nikkō
1937, Showa period (1926–1989)
Kawase Hasui (1883–1957), Hida Kamagatake
1933, Showa period (1926–1989)
Takahashi Shōtei (1871–1945), Mt. Fuji from Mizukubo
circa 1938, Showa period (1926–1989)
Kawase Hasui (1883–1957), Moon at Magome
1930, Showa period (1926–1989)
Yoshida Hiroshi (1876–1950), Fuji-san from Yamanaka
1936, Showa period (1926–1989)
Sekino Junichirō (1914–1988), Nissaka (The New Tokaido)
Sekino Junichirō (1914–1988)
1960, Showa period (1926–1989)
Kawase Hasui (1883–1957), Kyōto, Chion-in
1933, Showa period (1926–1989)
Itō Shinsui (1898–1972), Karasaki no matsu 唐崎の松 (Pine at Karasaki)
Itō Shinsui (1898–1972)
May 1918, Taisho period (1912–1926)
Kawase Hasui (1883–1957), Moon over Enoura
1939, 1st month, Showa period (1926–1989)
Kasamatsu Shirō (1898–1992), Rainy Season at Kinokunizaka
1938, Showa period (1926–1989)
Kasamatsu Shirō (1898–1992), Mountain Temple in Rain--Yamato Tsubosaka-dera
1950, Showa period (1926–1989)
Kasamatsu Shirō (1898–1992), Evening Sky--Suwa Shrine, Nippori
1932, Showa period (1926–1989)
Yoshida Tōshi (1911–1995), Rinnoji Garden
1941, Showa period (1926–1989)
Takahashi Shōtei (1871–1945), Twilight at Tasogare
late 1910s, Taisho period (1912–1926)
Takahashi Shōtei (1871–1945), Snow at Asakusa
circa 1920s, Taisho period (1912–1926) or Showa period (1926–1989)
Yoshida Hiroshi (1876–1950), Small town in Japan
1933, Showa period (1926–1989)
Yoshida Hiroshi (1876–1950), Suzukawa [Mt.Fuji from the Suzu River]
1935, Showa period (1926–1989)
Yoshida Hiroshi (1876–1950), Three Little Islands
1930, Showa period (1926–1989)
Kawase Hasui (1883–1957), Shiba Onshi Koen (Onshi Park, Shiba, Tokyo)
1937, 12th month, Showa period (1926–1989)
Hasegawa Takejirō (1853–1938); Arai Yoshimune (1863–1941), Suma Beach
1915–1920, Taisho period (1912–1926)
Yoshida Tōshi (1911–1995), Shirasagi Castle
1942, Showa period (1926–1989)
Nagai Kiyoshi (1911–1997), The Road in Winter
1972, Showa period (1926–1989)
Nagai Kiyoshi (1911–1997), Garden in the Early Spring
1972, Showa period (1926–1989)
Nakamura Daizaburō (1898–1947), Woman Seated by a Stream
Nakamura Daizaburō (1898–1947)
early 1900s
Konoshima Ōkoku (1877–1938), Snow Scene
Konoshima Ōkoku (1877–1938)
late 1800s–early 1900s, Meiji period (1868–1912) or Taisho period (1912–1926)
woman's outer kimono (uchikake)
circa 1953, Showa period (1926–1989)

Events

December 1, 2007
Workshop

Resources

Audio