The Color of Life: Japanese Paintings from the Price Collection

On Saturday morning I went to an Art 101 lecture at LACMA with my friend Jovon and his daughter.
The presentation was given by Stephen Little.  He gave a brief but important history of Japan and the paintings.  We then strolled through the Japanese Pavilion, celebrating it's 25 year to view the art he discussed.

The paintings in the exhibit are from the Edo period, 1700 to 1900 from the Price collection.  The exhibit will be shown in two parts.  Recently, the collection was shown in Fukushima, Japan where the people had been most effected by the earthquake, tsunami, and radioactive contamination.  The collection had a huge positive impact on the people.

The paintings are often on silk and are mounted on fabric that is hung with a dowel at the top and bottom.  The paintings can be easily rolled like a scroll.  However, the silk can be damaged by insects and the former capitol, Kyoto, was very warm and humid with insects in the summer.  The capitol was eventually moved to Edo which is now Tokyo.

The Shoguns ruled Japan until 1870's when they were replaced with a British like government.  The Portuguese came to Japan in the 1600's but were asked to leave in 1630 because they brought Catholic priests to convert the population.  Later the Dutch came who were Protestants who were only interested in money...he said.  The Dutch were kept on a separate island in order to not impact the population.  The Dutch were wealthy traders who brought the art of porcelain making to Japan.

Other interesting information that Little shared was that the Japanese love asymmetrical paintings and gardens because they are more like nature.  Fashion was very important to Japanese women as seen in their paintings.

Here are photos of what I observed:

"Tiger" by Katayama Jokoku, Japan 1762-1803.  The artist was born in Nagasake, the only city in Japan which during the Edo period (1615-1868) could be a home to foreigners from Chinese and Korean mainland.  He was born to a Japanese mother and Chinese father.  He incorporated Chinese style into his work. 

"Cranes," by Ito Jakuchu, Japan 1716-1800
The artist capture Cranes at their least graceful, in their most eccentric poses.

"Rooster and Rising Sun," by Ito Jakuchu.
The artist inherited a greengrocer's business and he raised fowl.  The rooster and the rising sun was commonly displayed at the New Year.

"Mandarin Ducks and Snow-covered Reeds," by Ito Jakuchu

"Eagle," 1798 by Ito Jakuchu..among the last of his paintings before he died in 1800 at the age of 84.

Birds, Animals and Flowering Plants on a pair of six-panel screens, color on paper.  The right screen depict a menagerie of real and imaginary beasts surrounding a white elephant.  The left screen shows a display of birds surrounding a mythical hoo (phoenix).  The screens are done in a mosaic-like style.

"Daruma," 1888 by Kawanabe Kyosal, Japan, 1831-89.  Daruma is credited as being the first patriarch of Zen Buddhism..emphasizing achieving personal enlightenment through meditation and transmission of dharma from master to pupil.

"Two Beauties," early nineteenth century attributed to Kitagawa Kikumaro (Tsukimaro)

The above photos are of the Shutendoji Ogre Tale, mid-seventeenth century, a pair of six-panel screens, color, gold and gold-leaf on paper.  A legend of Minamoto no Yoritmitsu, 944-1021, and his group of warriors who were dispatched from the palace to rescue court ladies and his henchmen.

"Paulownia; Maple, by Susuki Kiitsu, Japan, 1726-1858, pair of hangling scrolls; ink and color on silk.

"Egret and Willow," by Suzuki Kiitsu

"Tiger," 1755 by Ito Jakuchu
Jakuchu copied his Tiger from one he saw in a Chinese painting by Mao I as there were no tigers in Japan at the time.

"Seven Cranes," by Ito Jakuchu
"Cranes were a felicitous symbol of long life, and the wish is compounded when multiplied by seven."

"Crows and a Plum Tree; Rabbits and Pine Trees in Snow," 1774 by Katsu Jagyoku, Japan, 1733-1778.
Pair of six-panel screens; ink and white pigment on paper.