Tag Archives: 19th century

Public and Private Sides of the Kabuki Actor

Woodblock-printed books and single-sheet prints related to the kabuki theatre were in high demand during the Edo period (1615-1868). It is estimated that more than a third of all woodblock prints published during this era were “kabuki prints” (kabuki-e). Like … Continue reading

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JAPANESE ‘POP-UP’ TEA HOUSES: Chaseki okoshiezu

As early as the seventeenth century–long before there was 3-D computer-modeling for home renovations on HGTV–Japanese carpenters (architects) created detailed three-dimensional paper models of famous tea houses, designed by the great tea masters of the past. Sakata Sakujirō,Chaseki okoshiezu [Folding-drawing … Continue reading

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AMERIKA 101

We all remember that classic tale of George Washington as a young boy—no, not the one about him chopping down the cherry tree—the one where he met with the Italian explorer, Amerigo Vespucci (1451-1512) on a balcony overlooking a random … Continue reading

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ON DAZZLING JAPAN AND EUROPE IN THE 19TH CENTURY

In 1804, when the book Picture Book Annual Events of the Green Houses (Seirō ehon nenjū gyōji) was published in Japan, who would have guessed that ninety years later it would take Europe by storm? However, by 1891, this two-volume … Continue reading

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Banned Books: Kunisada’s “Tales of Genji”

Utagawa Kunisada (1786-1864) is often considered the leading woodblock print artist of the 19th century. A “superstar” in his own time, much of his fame and popularity can be credited to his beautiful and dynamic book illustrations parodying the classic … Continue reading

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Snows of the North Country

Now a classic of Japanese art and literature, it took Suzuki Bokushi (1770-1842) almost forty years to get his book, Snows of the North Country (Hokuetsu seppu) to market. This was because 19th-century publishers, catering to a sophisticated urban audience … Continue reading

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