NOTA |
(★)(In the early sixties, what was then the Kunstmuseum Dusseldorf received a large gift of Japanese woodcuts[ukiyo-e], and the donor generously added to the collection until 1988. Among the works are 220 pieces by the illustrators Kunisada[1786-1865] and Kuniyoshi [1798-1861], which are distinguished by their finely tuned palettes and the expressive gestures of their figures. The prints take the observer into a colorful, imaginative dream world, while some even seem like early examples of the manga comics so popular today. This publication offers a rare opportunity to compare the two artists´ illustrations of the same themes. The essays provide an introduction to nineteenth-century Japanese popular culture, bridging the gap between the centuries by exploring aspects of the grotesque in Japanese art, explaining legends and plays, and presenting some of Kuniyoshi´s preliminary studies.) |