Some years ago, the Honolulu Academy held an exhibition entitled “Taishô Chic,” displaying works, mainly bijinga (images of beautiful women) and kimono, representing the fashion, style, and aesthetic of Japan c. 1900-1930.*
Some of the works displayed at that time were on display again back in December when I visited the museum, and I was stunned by this piece by Yamakawa Shûhô, entitled Sannin no shimai (“Three Sisters”). It is a folding screen (byôbu) painting – a very traditional format – presumably done with ink and traditional mineral pigments, depicting three fashionable young ladies in front of & inside a beautiful c. 1936 automobile: hardly a traditional subject. Though the sisters are wearing kimono, tabi socks and geta clogs, they have modern hairstyles, and, I’m sure a textiles/fashion historian could even point out that the kimono designs themselves aren’t “traditional”.
I never used to think I was interested in Nihonga. Thought it was too modern. But now, this kind of thing really puts a smile on my face. I’ve grown to love the playful (or not so playful, and just matter of fact) juxtaposition of traditional and modern, Eastern and Western that one sees in the best Nihonga.
Thinking about this piece, I was excited to see the catalog for “Taishô Chic” on sale at the UH Bookstore for an absurdly low price. The book is not, admittedly, all that one might dream of a book on Taishô era art (even just bijinga/fashion) being. It contains only two short essays and though 74 objects is a pretty sizeable selection for an exhibition, in the catalog it feels limited. Seventy-four objects sounds like a fair number – and indeed it is – but if you’re interested in Nihonga paintings, there’s only X number of those, and if you’re interested in kimono, there’s only Y number of those, and Z number of shin-hanga prints… There’s likely only zero to two works by any given artist you may be interested in.
But, on the other hand, it is a very nice introduction to the topic and the period, and indeed contains some beautiful images – all full-color, glossy paper, hardcover.
If anyone would like a copy for $4.50 + S&H, I would be happy to oblige once the bookstore reopens after Spring Break (and assuming they still have copies).
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* (i.e. the “Greater Taishô period”, the actual Taishô period having only lasted from 1912 to 1926.)
It’s odd at first to see such an image on a folding screen. And for some reason, I find myself looking for a Martini glass or a top hat.
$4.50. That is a bargain.