A MOMENT OF ZEN AND SURPRISE
This was another block buster event. «Van Gogh - Dreaming of Japan» and «Hiroshige - The Art of Travel». I have been in front of the Pinacotheque a couple of times since they started but the crowds have daunted any enthusiam until today. There was no-one.
I would think that everything that can be said about Van Gogh’s (1822-1885) physcological problems, his schizophrenia, his crises which all had an effect on his work and the way of seeing the world generally. He must be the one artist who is known by everyone I would think we can all describe one of his paintings be it a sunflower, a night scene, his bedroom.....etc. etc. Every time I see an exhibition of his, the colours flash in front of my eyes, his unmistakeble brush techniques along with his use of paint. However, I had never thought of his relationship with the art of Hiroshige or Japan. To my knowledge, there has not been such an exhibition done which confronts both artists and looking at the landscapes today, it was not difficult to see they were constructed around a system which is practically always found in Hiroshige’s oeuvre.
It was in the South of France that Van Gogh found this reflection on Japan. Having gone there for over 30 years every year, I find it difficult to see how that comparison came to him. There were many other artists of that period who were just as interested in Japanese forms of art but perhaps not everyone depicted the trees in the same way as Van Gogh, which certainly looked a little Japanese. From now on, I will certainly look at his work differently.
Utagawa Hiroshige (1798-1858) was one of the last masters in th ukio-e tradition (image of the floating world). I certainly knew little or nothing about his work and as I don’t really appreciate Japanese engraving too much, only spent an hour looking at the separate exhibition. It’s surprising though and once again there is a lot to be learnt about the Japanese sense of humour.
I would think that everything that can be said about Van Gogh’s (1822-1885) physcological problems, his schizophrenia, his crises which all had an effect on his work and the way of seeing the world generally. He must be the one artist who is known by everyone I would think we can all describe one of his paintings be it a sunflower, a night scene, his bedroom.....etc. etc. Every time I see an exhibition of his, the colours flash in front of my eyes, his unmistakeble brush techniques along with his use of paint. However, I had never thought of his relationship with the art of Hiroshige or Japan. To my knowledge, there has not been such an exhibition done which confronts both artists and looking at the landscapes today, it was not difficult to see they were constructed around a system which is practically always found in Hiroshige’s oeuvre.
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| Utagawa Hiroshige maiko Beach |
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| Vincent Van Gogh Oliveraie Juin 1889, |
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| Men lighting their pipe - 1838-42 |
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| The Good Samaritan May1890 |
It was in the South of France that Van Gogh found this reflection on Japan. Having gone there for over 30 years every year, I find it difficult to see how that comparison came to him. There were many other artists of that period who were just as interested in Japanese forms of art but perhaps not everyone depicted the trees in the same way as Van Gogh, which certainly looked a little Japanese. From now on, I will certainly look at his work differently.
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| FLOATING BRIDGE IN NEW AMSTERDAM 1883 |
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| ENTRANCE TO THE SAN (?) Sanctuary 1832-35 |
Utagawa Hiroshige (1798-1858) was one of the last masters in th ukio-e tradition (image of the floating world). I certainly knew little or nothing about his work and as I don’t really appreciate Japanese engraving too much, only spent an hour looking at the separate exhibition. It’s surprising though and once again there is a lot to be learnt about the Japanese sense of humour.
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| Hiroshige |
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