Translation supervised by Princeton University Language Project
One of the characteristics of this collection is that it contains many of the precious materials of ukiyo-e like the sketches which were drawn by ukiyo-e artists called Gakō, Hanshita-e (the rough sketch drawn before carving on the block), Kyōgō-zuri (the experimental print only in black ink before coloring) and also the wood-blocks called Hangi.
Among them, the six Kyōgō-zuri prints of “Thirty-six Views of Mt. Fuji” by Katsushika Hokusai are, without question, extremely rare and precious. We can learn the procedure of the ukiyo-e production through these materials. Please admire the ukiyo-e artists’ exquisite highly skilled technique of that time.
◆To Learn the Procedure of the Production of the Ukiyo-e Wood Block Prints -Gakō (sketch), Hanshita-e (preparatory sketch drawn on paper), Kyōgōzuri (proof impression of print) and Hangi (wood block)-◆
【1st Term】 October 1st～17th
【2nd Term】October 19th～November 7th
【3rd Term】 November 9th～28th
◆Printed Book and Nikuhitsu-ga Painting (paintings directly drawn on a paper or cloth)◆
From the many printed books among the museum collection, we have carefully selected the masterpieces for this exhibition, such as “Seirō Bijin Awase” by Suzuki Harunobu, “ Bijin Awase Sugata Kagami” by two artists, Kitao Shigemasa and Katsukawa Shunshō and gorgeous Kyōka (humorous poems using 31 syllables) book by Kitagawa Utamaro. Moreover, we will introduce nikuhitsu-ga paintings which will tell us the fresh brushstroke of the ukiyo-e artists like “ Mountain Hermit, Kume and Beauty Washing Laundry” by Kitao Shigemasa, the rare works by Utagawa Hiroshige in his early days, Katsukawa Shunshō and Kawanabe Kyōsai, etc.
●Utagawa Hiroshige “One Hundred
Famous Views of Edo: Evening Shower
at Ōhashi Bridge and Atake”
© MKG Hamburg
(will be exhibited in the 2nd term)
●Suzuki
Harunobu “ Thirty-six
poets: Minamoto no Muneyuki Ason”
© MKG Hamburg
（will be exhibited in the 1st Term)
The Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe Hamburg has collected about 10,000 pieces of Japanese Art and about 2,000 works among them are the works of ukiyo-e wood block prints. This museum is said to have collected ukiyo-e from its establishment through contributions made by fine arts dealer in Paris, Siegfried Bing (1838～1905) and Hayashi Tadamasa.
The collection of ukiyo-e works of the museum is wonderful both qualitatively and quantitatively consisting of about 2,000 pieces of wood block prints, 40 pieces of hanging scrolls, 1600 pieces of sketches and 300 pieces of printed books which were bequeathed under his will by Gerhard Schack (1929～2007) in recent years. Thanks to this, the collection of the ukiyo-e works of the museum extended to more than 5,000, reinforcing one of the important collections of art in the world.
This year is the 150th anniversary of the Japan-German Treaty of Amity and Commerce. Germany has continued to have contact with Japan for a long time since the arrival of the Prussian East Asian (Eulenburg) Expedition at Edo Bay in 1860. The collection of ukiyo-e wood block prints of Hamburg, the second biggest city in Germany, visits home Japan in commemoration of our 150 year-long friendship.
Opened in 1877, the Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe Hamburg is known as one of the most popular museums in Germany. They are known to own more than a million works of art. Among the various collections from Europe and Asia are also the many works of ukiyo-e wood block prints.
Moreover, during recent years, the collection of ukiyo-e prints collected by Gerhard Schack, who had lived in Hamburg, were bequeathed to the museum according to his will. He was a wealthy man from generations and had built up the huge collection by devoting himself to collection and research of ukiyo-e wood block prints while rarely leaving his house. Existence of Gerhard Schack was little known to the world; however, through recent research, the full picture of the collection including not only the works by famous ukiyo-e artists but also many surimono (privately commissioned prints), sketches and hanshita-e (final preparatory sketch drawn on paper), etc were revealed.
For this exhibition, we have selected from more than 5000 pieces of the collection of ukiyo-e wood block prints of the Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe Hamburg about 200 works of ukiyo-e which will be mostly exhibited for the first time in Japan. In this exhibition, we will be able to enjoy not only the famous works by Suzuki Harunobu, Kitagawa Utamaro, Tōshūsai Sharaku, Katsushika Hokusai and Utagawa Hiroshige, but also many pieces of scarce surimono executed by beautiful technique of carving, printing and rare materials like Kyōgōzuri (proof impression of print), Hanshita-e (final preparatory sketch drawn on paper), Gakō (sketch) and Hangi (wood block), etc which will tell you the procedure of the production of the ukiyo-e wood block prints. This exhibition will give you the opportunity to enjoy the famous works of ukiyo-e works and to learn deeply about the ukiyo-e wood block prints.
150th Anniversary of Japan-German Treaty
Japan's first exhibition of Ukiyo-e collection of the Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe Hamburg"
In this exhibition, we will exhibit the works of ukiyo-e wood block prints from various and wide range of periods, like the works by Hishikawa Moronobu, “ Thirty-six poets: Minamoto no Muneyuki Ason” by Suzuki Harunobu who is said to have invented the multi-colored prints called nishiki-e, “ Six Tama Rivers: the Tama River in Kōya” by Kitagawa Utamaro who was active during the age of gold of ukiyo-e (1781～1801), Ōkubi-e (bust portrait) work called “Kabuki Actor, Matsumoto Yonesaburō as Kewaizaka no Shōshō, actually Shinobu” by Tōshūsai Sharaku, the series of “Thirty-six Views of Mt. Fuji” by Katsushika Hokusai who was famous for his 250th birth anniversary this year and “One Hundred Famous Views of Edo: Evening Shower at Ōhashi Bridge and Atake” by Utagawa Hiroshige. You can also learn the main flow of the ukiyo-e wood block prints through this exhibition.
Copyright© Ota Memorial Museum of
Art. All rights reserved.
(will be exhibited in the 2nd term)
●Torii Kiyonaga “Enjoying the Evening
Cool Breeze in Ōkawabata”
© MKG Hamburg
（will be exhibited in the 3rd term)
( Will be closed on October 4, 12, 18, 25th / November 1, 8, 15, 22nd)
◆The World of Beautiful Printing and Carving
-Many pieces of Scarce Works of Surimono (privately commissioned prints)- ◆
Among the ukiyo-e collection of the Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe Hamburg, the most attractive works are the surimono which were the prints privately commissioned. Different from the general ukiyo-e wood block prints, the number of surimono were limited, so gorgeous paper, exquisite beautiful technique of carving and printing were used. In recent years, the beauty of surimono has caught the attention of people from all over the world. In this exhibition, we will exhibit many pieces of surimono including the series consists of 24 pieces of prints formerly collected by French great literary figure, Edmond de Goncourt and surimono works by the Katsushika School.
●Katsushika
Hokusai “One
Hundred Stories: Sarayashiki”
© MKG Hamburg
（will be exhibited in the 3rd Term)
◆Evolution of Ukiyo-e Seen in Excellent Works
-From Moronobu to Hokusai -◆
◆Introduction ◆
