Edo to Now: 400 Years of Japanese Art
The exhibition brings together a selection of fine Japanese art from the Edo period (1615-1868) to the present day.
A highlight of the exhibition is the masterpiece by Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849), Rainstorm Beneath the Summit, a woodblock print from the iconic series Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji. Further woodblock prints by artists Utagawa Hiroshige, Utagawa Kunisada and Totoya Hokkei are included, along with a pair of silver-leaf folding screens depicting pine trees by Uenaka Chokusai (1885-1977), and a group of intricate Edo and Meiji Period lacquer boxes, inro and netsuke from the Ankarcrona collection.
The exhibition concludes with two contemporary paintings - Coordinates Pointing to the Origin of Light by Asakura Takafumi (b. 1978) is a calligraphic tour-de-force, combining the artist's tradmark calligraphy of ancient texts with a mythical three-legged crow. The second contemporary work is by Taira Hisaya (b. 1960) who began producing photorealistic paintings based on photographs from around 1984. Escalator #27 is a significant work depicting an underground escalator - and is one of a series of works of such mundane places that we would barely pay attention to.
Opening times at 4 Cromwell Place:
Tuesday: by appointment only
Wednesday - Saturday: 10am - 6pm
Sunday: 10am - 4pm
Please use the advance reservation link below:
Book your free entry into Cromwell Place to view all exhibitions.
For any enquires and for prices, please contact: anastasia@avsjapaneseart.com
An illustrated catalogue will accompany the exhibition.
Credits:
Photography: Matt Spour
Design: Aaron Canning
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Totoya Hokkei (1780–1850)The Irises of Yatsuhashi at Mikawa (Mikawa Yatsuhashi, kakitsubata), from the series Famous Products of the Various Provinces, for the Gogawa Group (Gogawa, Shokoku meibutsu), about 1810Woodblock print, surimono, embellished with metallic pigments and embossingShikishiban:Sold
20.5 x 18.3 cm.
8 1/8 x 7 1/4 in. -
Shunkosai Hokushu (active circa 1810-32)The actor Nakamura Utaemon III in the role of Mino no Shokuro, 1823, first monthWoodblock print, surimono, embellished with metallic pigments and embossingVertical oban:Sold
35.9 x 24.7 cm.
14 1/8 x 9 3/4 in. -
Totoya Hokkei (1780–1850)Chinese Warrior (Ryuho) slays the White Serpent (Ryuho hakuja o kiru), 1832Woodblock print, surimono, embellished with metallic pigments and embossingShikishiban:Sold
20.4 x 17.8 cm.
8 1/8 x 7 1/8 in. -
Utagawa Hiroshige (1797-1858)Cockerel in Morning Snow, mid-1830sWoodblock printChutanzaku:Sold
36.5 x 12.1 cm.
14 3/8 x 4 3/4 in. -
Katsushika Hokusai (1760–1849)Rainstorm beneath the Summit (Sanka haku-u), from the series Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji (Fugaku sanjurokkei), circa 1831Woodblock printHorizontal oban:Sold
25.4 x 37.6 cm.
10 x 14 3/4 in. -
Utagawa Hiroshige (1797-1858)The Fuji River in snow (Fujikawa sekkei), about 1842-44Woodblock printVertical oban, diptych (kakemono-e):Sold
73.5 x 24.7 cm.
29 x 9 3/4 in. -
Utagawa Kunisada (1786–1865)The Type with a Secret Lover (Mabu ga ariso), from the series The Modern Thirty-two Types (Imayo sanjuni so), 1859, 12th monthWoodblock printVertical oban:Sold
36.1 x 24.8 cm.
14 1/4 x 9 3/4 in. -
Utagawa Kunisada (1786–1865)The Hard-to-Please Type (Kimutsukashiso), from the series The Modern Thirty-two Types (Imayo sanjuni so), 1859, 2nd monthWoodblock printVertical oban:Sold
36.2 x 24.7 cm.
14 1/4 x 9 3/4 in. -
Utagawa Kunisada (1786–1865)The Sad-at-Parting Type (Wakare ga iyaso), from the series The Modern Thirty-two Types (Imayo sanjuni so), 1859, 6th monthWoodblock printVertical oban:Sold
38.7 x 25.6 cm.
15 1/4 x 10 1/8 in. -
A Lacquer Accessory Box (Tebako), Meiji Period (Late 19th Century)A deep box with rounded corners and flush-fitting cover, lavishly decorated in gold hiramaki-e and takamaki-e, with details in keuchi, ginpun, uchikomi and kirikane. The box rims in silver.27.3 x 22.8 x 13.1 cm.Sold
(10 3/4 x 9 x 5 1/8 in.) -
A Somada Lacquer Tiered Incense Box (Jukogo), Meiji Period (Late 19th Century)The cover of the box depicts the hermit Lin Pu and a crane beside a blossoming plum tree, bamboo and rocks. The sides and edges with finely inlaid geometric patterns.6.3 x 6.3 x 5.1 cm.Sold
(2 1/2 x 2 1/2 x 2 1/8 in.) -
An Ebony Netsuke of a Horse, Edo Period (19th Century)A seated horse, finely carved.
The eyes inlaid in pale and dark cow horn.3.9 cm. (1 1/2 in.) wideSold -
A Four-Case Lacquer Inro, Edo Period (19th century)Rosei sleeps on a low bed in the shade of a tree, a fan held in front of his face. The black mist emanating from him drifts off to the right, covering the reverse of the inro and contains his dream - a court procession.8 cm. (3 1/8 in.) high (the inro)Sold
3.7 cm. (1 1/2 in.) wide (the netsuke) -
A Five-Case Lacquer Inro, Meiji Period (Late 19th Century)The inro is decorated overall with sprays of chrysanthemums (kiku), bush clover (hagi), branches of cherry (sakura) and plum (ume), peonies (botan), iris (shobu), and fringed pinks (nadeshiko), lotus leaves (hasu) to the base and further bush clover to the top.9 cm. (3 1/2 in.) highSold
