The moon by the great masters of Japanese prints.
Hazan| N° d'inventaire | 25083 |
| Format | 17 x 25 |
| Détails | 186 p., in box. |
| Publication | Paris, 2021 |
| Etat | Nine |
| ISBN | 9782754112383 |
The moon occupies a very singular place in Japanese culture, to the point that a festival, Tsukimi , is traditionally dedicated to it each year, on a date that varies between mid-September and the beginning of October, according to the lunar calendar. The celebration, still very much alive, consists of gathering with family or friends to contemplate the nocturnal star when it is in its full phase, at the time of year when its brilliance is greatest, a ritual that is accompanied by offerings and specific dishes. Contrary to Western tradition, which associates the moon with a melancholic, even negative, image, in Japan it is the expression of fertility and prosperity – a trace, no doubt, of ancient festivals celebrating the end of the harvests. More broadly, it symbolizes autumn, thus participating in a poetic and artistic genre called "Snow, moon and flowers", which summarizes the cycle of the seasons.
The prints gathered in this album bear witness to the importance it holds in the imagination of artists. Some clearly illustrate the Tsukimi festival , showing meetings on a terrace or on the banks of a river. Others recall its close link with poetry, as evidenced by the leaves in the hands of some characters, but also with tales and mythological stories – recalled in particular by the presence of rabbits. Elsewhere, the moon simply marks the passage to night, when the sun has disappeared and everyone hurries home; or on the contrary, when nightfall marks the beginning of another life, that of courtesans and secret pleasures. Finally, sometimes present solely for its aesthetic quality, the moon illuminates a landscape, imbued with mystery, or participates in a clever and delicate composition, mixing flowers and birds.
The greatest names in Japanese printmaking are brought together in this collection: Hokusai, Hiroshige, Yoshitoshi, the last great master of ukiyo -e , later Hasui Kawase, and many others. While each celebrated the night star with their own unique style, the ensemble exudes a particularly peaceful and poetic atmosphere.
The moon occupies a very singular place in Japanese culture, to the point that a festival, Tsukimi , is traditionally dedicated to it each year, on a date that varies between mid-September and the beginning of October, according to the lunar calendar. The celebration, still very much alive, consists of gathering with family or friends to contemplate the nocturnal star when it is in its full phase, at the time of year when its brilliance is greatest, a ritual that is accompanied by offerings and specific dishes. Contrary to Western tradition, which associates the moon with a melancholic, even negative, image, in Japan it is the expression of fertility and prosperity – a trace, no doubt, of ancient festivals celebrating the end of the harvests. More broadly, it symbolizes autumn, thus participating in a poetic and artistic genre called "Snow, moon and flowers", which summarizes the cycle of the seasons.
The prints gathered in this album bear witness to the importance it holds in the imagination of artists. Some clearly illustrate the Tsukimi festival , showing meetings on a terrace or on the banks of a river. Others recall its close link with poetry, as evidenced by the leaves in the hands of some characters, but also with tales and mythological stories – recalled in particular by the presence of rabbits. Elsewhere, the moon simply marks the passage to night, when the sun has disappeared and everyone hurries home; or on the contrary, when nightfall marks the beginning of another life, that of courtesans and secret pleasures. Finally, sometimes present solely for its aesthetic quality, the moon illuminates a landscape, imbued with mystery, or participates in a clever and delicate composition, mixing flowers and birds.
The greatest names in Japanese printmaking are brought together in this collection: Hokusai, Hiroshige, Yoshitoshi, the last great master of ukiyo -e , later Hasui Kawase, and many others. While each celebrated the night star with their own unique style, the ensemble exudes a particularly peaceful and poetic atmosphere.