Art of the
Japanese Postcard
Essays by
Anne Nishimura Morse, J. Thomas Rimer and Kendall H. Brown
Published by Lund Humphries in association with the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston - March 2004
ISBN 0 85331 902 2
From the
late nineteenth to the early twentieth century, Japan was a vital world centre
for postcard art. More than just casual mail pieces, these postcards were often
designed by prominent artists and had a visual impact that belied their modest
format. Remarkably beautiful examples of graphic design in their own right, they
also recorded the shifting definitions of 'East' and 'West' at a time when such
European currents as Art Nouveau began to show up in Japanese visual
productions.
Art of the Japanese Postcard presents 426 full-colour examples of these cards,
culled from the vast Leonard A. Lauder Collection. They are astonishing not only
for their beauty and the quality of their printing, but also for the insight
they provide into contemporary Japanese artistic practices - insights not
relayed in standard histories that focus on painting and sculpture - as well as
for the fluid interplay of European and Japanese modes. Authoritative essays by
leading scholars of Japanese art and culture, plus a statement by the collector
himself, highlight the design, development, and cultural function of these
rarely studied, but highly influential and visually exciting, expressions of
graphic genius.
Anne Nishimura Morse is Curator of Japanese Art at the Museum of Fine Arts,
Boston. J. Thomas Rimer is a Professor in the Department of East Asian Languages
and Literatures at the University of Pittsburgh. Kendall H. Brown is an
Assistant Professor in the Department of Art at California State University,
Long Beach.
Review:
The first impression of this book is very favourable - attractive cover
design, solidly-bound hardback, 288 pages full of superb reproductions on high
quality
paper. And the contents do not disappoint. I have long had an
interest in Japanese postcards and have a small collection myself, but Leonard
A. Lauder has discovered and preserved examples of types which I had never seen
before.
The wood-block prints and painted screens of early Japanese art are well known
throughout the world, and contemporary Japanese art and design is also famous.
Until now I have always felt that there was a void between the two periods, with
little to explain the transition and influences. This book fills the void
using postcard design, a form of communication which itself was introduced and
became popular during that transitional period, and in so doing makes a vital
contribution to the history of Japanese art.
It is well known that at the end of the nineteenth century Western artists drew
inspiration from Japanese visual arts in the movement usually described as 'Japonisme'.
This book shows how young Japanese artists were studying Western techniques at
the same time and created their own 'Europeanisme'.
A huge range of topics is covered by the essays which introduce and explain the
462 full-colour examples - from traditional Japanese life to fashion and the
modern woman, the Russo-Japanese War, Art Nouveau, humour, advertising
material - yet what they all have in common is a freshness of approach and an
attractive vitality. If you have any interest in Japanese art and its
history, or if you are an artist seeking inspiration, this book is a must.
And if you are neither of these, but would take pleasure in a book that you can
simply dip into to discover delightful images and fascinating insights into an
exotic society in the process of change, then be sure to add this title to your
Christmas list - or better still, treat yourself now at a bargain price from the
publisher's website!
John Simpson June '04
For more details or to order this book at a special discount (£28 instead of £35) click here for the Lund Humphries website
For more books on Japan see our Bibliography
Return to John & Jeannette's home page Return to MCW home page Return to Sussex Japan Society home page