19 June, Sunday - Sun day, moon in Aquarius,
the 18th day of the 5th lunar month.
From Edo to Boston to Tokyo: The Ukiyoe Trove at the Yamatane Museum
26 Feb. - 17 April, 2011
Kiyonaga, Utamaro, Syaraku.
I was lucky enough to say hello to the Edo Ukiyoe beauties,
which were collected by American connoisseurs in the 19th or
the 20th century, and then finally donated to the Boston Museum.
As you know, many overseas artworks hesitate to show up here
after the 311 quake due to the security issue.
Fortunately, the show started before the quake!
Museum of Art has been showcasing profound beauty of Japanese art.
Crowded!
the coffee shop on the ground floor.
The ticket and free give-aways (one cup of coffee,
a candy served with the coffee, and a sample of instant coffee.)
← My fave work ''September'', in the series of
the Minami (Shinagawa) 12 months.
Let me show you their 'before' and 'after'.
After
← around 250 years after they were created.
Before
↓ Just born (in Edo period)!
Eh... That's Ukiyoe.
The more aged, better.
I pretty appreciate American collectors who
have been keeping them in perfect condition.
Compared to Japan, the US has less humidity,
plus the most of works slept in their treasure chest.
Because the American collectors knew that
the Ukiyoe are much more delicate than others.
Well, the beauties must be treated as sacred!
''Right?''
