April 23–30, 1998
six pick
Heroes & Ghosts
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Utagawa Kuniyoshi, |
Japanese printmaking was at its height during the Edo period (1603-1867), an upbeat period in Japan's history. The most popular medium was woodblock printmaking, and the dominant style was ukiyo-e ("pictures of the floating world"): portraits of kabuki actors, sumo wrestlers, geisha girls and idyllic landscapes.
Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1797-1861), a master of woodblock printmaking, is the subject of an exhibition titled Heroes & Ghosts: Japanese Prints by Kuniyoshi opening April 25 at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
Though Kuniyoshi was successful with his ukiyo-e prints throughout his career, he is most widely known for his depictions of warriors (most notably, his prints of heroes from the Suikoden, stories of warriors based on medieval Chinese legends).
The exhibit, which was organized by Amsterdam's Van Gogh Museum in conjunction with the PMA and the Society for Japanese Arts, will include 125 Kuniyoshi prints. The PMA is the only American venue.
April 25-June 28, Philadelphia Museum of Art, 26th & The Parkway. Call the PMA at 763-8100 for info on special programs in conjunction with the exhibit.
