Japanese Print: A Historical Guide

238 Pages·1982·29.176 MB·English

by  Hugo Munsterberg

THE
JAPANESE
PRINT
A
Historical
Guide
$19.95
Of all the aspects of Japanese art, woodblock
prints have had the greatest appeal for the
Western world. In fact, this art form has en-
joyed greater popularity in Europe and America
than it ever has in Japan itself, and it is fair
to say that only after Western artists, collectors,
and scholars gave high praise to Japanese prints
did the Japanese themselves begin to appreciate
the unique artistic heritage that was theirs.
The vogue for these prints that began in the
West in the late nineteenth century was induced
largely by the astonishing originality of their
—
designs and the brilliance oftheir colors factors
that influenced such artists as Whistler, van
Gogh, and Cassatt. A great deal of their fascina-
tion is to be found in their subject matter:
Kabuki actors, the glamorous courtesans of the
Yoshiwarapleasure quarters, heroes and heroines
from the past, and landscapes picturing the
impressive scenery of Japan. Their origin as an
art of the common people has continued to be
reflected in the woodblock prints of today.
This straightforwardly written and highly
informative book is designed to serve as an in-
troduction to Japanese prints for the student
and the beginning collector. It is both a history
and a guide. While the paintings and illustrated
books of the printmakers are mentioned only
in passing, the account of the Japanese print
is not limited to the history of ukiyo-e but
includes a discussion of the Buddhist prints of
the medieval period and the prints ofthe modern
age starting with the Meiji era and coming up
to the present. Thus not only such masters as
Harunobu, Kiyonaga, Utamaro, Sharaku, Hoku-
sai, and Hiroshige are presented but also such
modern luminaries as Onchi, Hiratsuka, and
Munakata.
A major virtue of the book is to be found
(continuedon hackflap)
THE JAPANESE PRINT

Hugo
Munsterberg
The
JAPANESE PRINT
A
Historical Guide
o
New York . WEATHERHILL . Tokyo
First edition, 1982
Published by John Weatherhill, Inc., ofNew York and Tokyo, with editorial
offices at 7-6-13 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 106, Japan. Protected by
copyright under terms of the International Copyright Union; all rights
reserved. Printed in the Republic ofKoreaand first published in Japan.
Library ofCongress Cataloging in Publication Data: Munsterberg, Hugo, 1916- /
The Japanese print. / Bibliography: p. / Includes index. /I. Color prints,
Japanese. /I. Title / NE 1310.M86 1982 / 769.952 / 81-16195 / ISBN 0-
8348-0167-1 AACR2
/
For Meredith Weatherby,
who, as editor, translator, and
publisher, has added so much to our
understanding and appreciation
of Japanese art

}
Contents
Preface ix
1 Discovery and Appreciation 3
2 Buddhist Prints ofthe Medieval Period 1
3 Moronobu and the Origins of Ukiyo-e 16
4 Actor Prints Kiyonobu and the Torii School 23
:
5 The Kaigetsudo School and Sukenobu 31
6 Masanobu and the Color Print 37
7 Harunobu and His Followers 46
8 Shunsho, Bunchd, and the Actor Print 56
9 The Kitao School and Toyoharu 64
10 Kiyonaga and His Followers 79
11 Utamaro, His Contemporaries, and His Followers 86
12 Sharaku, Toyokuni, and Their Followers 98
13 Hokusai, the Old Man Mad with Painting 110
14 Hiroshige and the Landscape Print 120
15 Kunisada, Kuniyoshi, and Their Contemporaries 128
16 Prints ofthe Meiji Era 137
17 Woodblock Prints Outside of Edo 148
18 Prints of the Taisho Era 153
19 The Contemporary Japanese Print 165
20 The Collecting and Care of Japanese Prints 182
Glossary 191
Selected Bibliography 195
Index 205
CONTENTS
vii