The Floating World and Beyond (200 Years of Japanese Prints)

Hello friends and Hivians! I found some time to check out an exhibition at the local museum. This time in the form of some Japanese woodblock prints dating back from the past 200 years. This is a temporary exhibit and will be on display until the 24th of August at the Joslyn Museum in Omaha, Nebraska.

This was a small room exhibit and in total only 20 prints. I found most of them interesting and even had a favorite. I won't say which one is my favorite but if you want to guess in comments, go for it! Those that know me it really is a no brainer. Also feel free to tell me yours.

Okazaki: Yahagi Bridge
Artist: Utagawa Hirishige

This print was done around 1850-51. I find bridges pretty cool and what's best about them is thier is usually a body of water below them. This picture has a good balance of activity with people in it. It really shows that both the bridge and waterway get good usage by the people.

The Great Wave off Kanagawa
Artist: Katsushika Hokusai

I'll state the obvious a horrible taken picture by me. A few of the prints I took had these glares and shadows in them. Unfortunately there are some that I will not share because they really turned out bad. Anyways this one I found pretty cool. Mount Fuji is a large spectacle but this wave illustrates how big it is dwarfing the mountain in the distance. I love the long boats in the print but I tell you I would not want to be onboard one of them as thier about to get swallowed.

How much did a rare print of this piece go for over a year ago? It went for 2.76 million dollars at auction. Its reared as one of the most famous Japanese prints. This print was originally done around 1830-32.

Drawing Book
Artist: Katsushika Hokusai

Same artist again this time with a fishing marine life handbook done in 1842. I really wish I could have seen all the pages of this book. Very neat to see some of the marine life of the sea all done by hand!

Rapids
Artist: Yoshida Hiroshi

A great print taken from a real life rapids in 1928. These rapids are located on the Tone river north of Tokyo. Seeing the real thing in person is delightful but a print of it saves the memory and is a work of art.

View of Court Ladies at Train Station
Artist: Tsukioka Yoshitoshi

This print was completed 1878-79 depicting a group of ladies waiting on a train. I really like the bright red in this print and how it screams Japanese culture.

Railway A
Artist: Shigeru Kimura

This Artist finished this print in 1969 and he did a lot of railroad prints. There's something about rail road tracks that makes a print look very classical. This one to me illustrates not only tracks but iron and the railroad transportation network which has been around for quite sometime.

Dawn at Lake Yamanaka
Artist: Kawase Hawsai

I think Japan and one of the first things that images in my head is Mount Fuji. This 1931 portrait is stunning, great detail of dawn and reflections on the water. The mountain even holds reflections of other portraits in it,haha.

Winter in Aizu
Artist: Kiyoshi Saito

This print was done either in the 1940's or 1950's. Winter is best looked at in a portrait in my opinion, haha. Especially when snow comes in bunches several times during the season. Alright there's times when its fresh, fluffy and untouched it can be beautiful to witness.

Snow at Zojoji Temple, Shiba
Kawase Hasui

So since winter is gone and only lurks ahead I'll share one more with you. I like this 1925 print, the mostly red and white colors really give it a punch. Its neat how you can tell its windy, a nice touch. Just glad its not me walking right now down that street.

Artist: Toyohara Kunichika
Circa 1871

Artist: Utagawa Kunisada II
Circa 1865

Here we have some prints of various actors that the artist depict in there dramas. I find these pretty cool and before entering the gallery I thought I would mostly see this type. I like the colors and how they appear animated like.

The Attack on Weihaiwei: The Taking of the Hundred Foot Cliff
Artist: Yōsai Nobukazu

This print was done in 1895. The actual Battle of Weihaiwei took place between 20 January and 12 February. It was part of the first Sino-Japanese war with China. The Japenese won the battle but a few decades later China won the war. This print is a bit more than war between soldiers as a captain is holding a child trying to protect the child from gunfire. I thought it was kind of unique how the artist showed the bullets flying by showing the trajectory.

I hope you enjoyed a few of the prints I shared with you. Have a great day and for those in the States, enjoy Memorial Day today! Take care, be safe, and enjoy the rest of the week. Until next time!