The World of Taisho Imagerie

About this event

"Imagerie" is a French term referring to images and pictorial prints; in this exhibition, it is used as an overarching term for printed matter and prints including book bindings, posters, and postcards. During the Meiji and Taisho periods, when printing technology and publishing culture flourished, diverse designs were created by numerous artists such as Hisui Sugiura and Yumeji Takehisa. Please enjoy the ever-transforming world of Taisho Imagerie—sometimes sweet and lovely, sometimes alluring and enchanting. Focusing on changes in book design and printing techniques in Japan from the Meiji period onward, this exhibition introduces the wide-ranging world of Taisho Imagerie across books, magazines, sheet music, advertisements, and more. Highlights include the ensemble of imagerie by distinct artists: Takeji Fujishima, Hisui Sugiura, and Goyo Hashiguchi, who pioneered the world of popular publishing design in modern Japan with outstanding design sense; Yumeji Takehisa, who took the world by storm with his wistful portraits of beauties; Kasho Takabatake, whose modern illustrations of boys and girls garnered enthusiastic support, especially from young female readers; and Kaichi Kobayashi, characterized by bold compositions and fantastical color aesthetics rendered through hand-printed woodblock techniques. Furthermore, against the historical backdrop where the concept of "elan vital" proposed by philosopher Henri Bergson spread and individual creativity became prized, the exhibition showcases a diverse world of Taisho Imagerie, including works visualizing the concept of "elan vital" that strongly influenced artists' self-expression, pieces displaying homages to ukiyo-e, children's illustrations, and grotesque/macabre-themed works. Selected frontispieces and illustrations from magazines and books published between the Meiji and Taisho eras from the Kannabe Collection held by Hachioji Yume Art Museum will be on display, delving deeper into the publishing culture of the Meiji and Taisho periods.

Venue

Hachioji Yume Art Museum

8-1 Yokacho, Hachioji, Tokyo 192-0071