Buncho Tani + Hokusai Katsushika Exhibition

Tochigi Prefectural Museum of Fine Arts

Finished

Artists

Buncho Tani, Hokusai Katsushika

From the mid to late Edo period (late 18th to early 19th century), Buncho Tani (1763-1840) and Hokusai Katsushika (1760-1849) enjoyed tremendous popularity. It is no exaggeration to say that Buncho and Hokusai were the two superstars of the Edo painting world. Hokusai remained active until he was 90 years old, while Buncho remained active until he was 78 years old.

There is an interesting episode in "Katsushika Hokusai's Biography" (1893) written by Kyoshin Iijima, in which the 11th Shogun Ienari heard about Hokusai's reputation and invited him to Denpoin in Asakusa. Tani Buncho was also invited. After Buncho painted a splendid seating picture, Hokusai unfolded a long sheet of paper and, using a thick brush, made a single stroke of an indigo band on it. He then released a chicken with vermilion paint on its soles and announced to the Shogun that its vermilion footprints were the autumn leaves of the Tatsuta River. Although the truth of the story is not known, it reflects the contrast between the great orthodox master Buncho and the eccentric genius Hokusai, a man of the common people.

This exhibition will present the works of these two artists to imagine the reception of their paintings in the mid-to late-Edo period. The exhibition will feature about 40 works, including "Tokaido, Nakasendo, and Kiso Kaido Shinkei" by Buncho, which was exhibited for the first time, about 40 paintings by Hokusai, including some also exhibited for the first time, and 46 works from "Fugaku Sanjurokkei" (36 Views of Mount Fuji), including the world-famous "Kanagawa Okinamiura" and "Triumphant and Pleasant" (famous as Red Fuji), which were exhibited (one for each half-year period), thereby introducing two major brands of Edo period paintings.

The exhibition will also introduce 46 paintings of "Fugaku Sanjurokkei" (Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji), including the world-famous "Kanagawa-okiaraira" and the world-famous "Kaihoikaisen" (Triumphant and Pleasant).

Schedule

Oct 21 (Sat) 2023-Dec 24 (Sun) 2023