New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-06-13
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
ARTISTIC JAPAN

We have received from Brentano Numbers y 8
md Of 8. Bing's artistic Japsn.S The text OK
NO consists OF interesting paper on The Ars
of Engraving In japan" by Theodore Dures' hhgfs'
me eame TO japan from China, ana fs use III INC
Illustration Of books is comparatively moocrn, sno
fsst remarkable example Of It occurring IN tooe
Ths art OF printing in colors appears TO have Ooeh
originated and brought far forward In the latter part
Of the seventeenth century, but IL was not generay
adopted for book Illustration until the egnteehtn'
Tho first use OF engraving for popular purposes y.
said to have been the reproduction OF tne races o
actors and scenes IN tho theatres toward the ena OK
the seventeenth century In the first decade oil the
eighteenth colored engravings In one or two tones
besnn 70 be produced. Between ITO and 1900 NJ.
Durct states powerful artists extended coiored
te beyond the theatrical world and adapted u 10
the portrayal of feminine figures, porular scenes
are,ai gatherings scenes from romances, history
battles. and lastly TO landscapes" AT this period
me art reached great perfection under series OF hvo
oesienefs. In tho present century there has been
loss Of refinement in the larger coored engraVings
owing to the vilgarEaton of the art, but designing
and engraving IN black and white reached their eli
mar IN the genius OF Hokusai, whose works extend
over Fifty years. and embrace every style OF Japanese
engraving Hokusai, as NJ. Dnrot observes 81 has
treated every form with equal success. HIS work,
OVERLOOKING with Life and movement, Is full OF truth;
includes popular comicslities and pathetic scenes
the grotesque and the terrible. His work constitutes
q
thing 10 be by the or invented in the brain
of Japanese
OF tho truth OF this the subscribers 30 Artistic
yapans arc enabled to Judge for themselves, for tho
Assigns Of Hokusa appear upon almost every page OF
this publication. he is the Hogsrth and the Craik-
shank of Japan. He delights IN the odd the bizarre,
the grotesque Caricsture his native element, ana
he IS never more In vein than when sezing the dro
aspects OF the common people and grouping mem
comsoaIy.y At the same time his landscape ouects
are marvellous. With few lines aud dotted masses
no presents some view of his beloved Furysms' Wn
river foreground, clustered cottages. some fishermen
IN tho boats reeds on the river bank, forest beyona
all IN perfect keeping all full Of suggestion ana po'u-
sesqnensss The separate plates in this number contain
an example after Kiyonaga about ITO, Wow on
he banks Of the Sumda, showing much moderrlty
Of style and tone together with some archasm ana
attn conventionaties Hokusai is represented by an
engraving of Mandarin ducks which deserves caretni
study for its frmness boldhess, truth and ease.
asparrows among Bamboos" afer KaRemono oy
Nosan (sehoo Of Bhije delightful study, the DELI
cate and supple branches and the BIRDS among them
M overy imaginable pose. exhibiting tho artistic skill
and the feeling for nature OF the japanese artists
strfkinEly. , In No. 9, NJ. AIRY Renan discusses
Hok,saps sMan-Gurap and concludes this Interesting
article In No. o. The paper presents various wood
cuts which Illustrate HohisaPs versatility by many
examples. There Is a slight sketch OF shrub and
arason-fy In the margin which clearly shows the
artists method and the OF his eye ana hsnd
In the separate plates the "kanGuraS Is drawn upon
freely and furnishes curious and lively sheet Of what
might be called HolEusaVs thumb-ns Sketches Thoy
are all studies of the people, and without exception
humorous and diverting. Tho expression s not less
remsrksbs than the simplicity Of execution An ex-
ceedngly delicate and charming plate Is study OF
Wild vino painted IN water color by an unknown
artist Therc are also copies OF eronses decorative
patterns, and masks. In the eighth number NJ
Roman finishes hts HManGara" artists, giving plenty
cf examples Of HokusaPs vssious styles In tho text
1vo pages from the Manicure form one OF the sepa
rate plates Of this number Ono is hlled with
collection Of insects and reptiles, fun Of hfc and
movements the other is specimen Of one OF the
rrcst artists favorlte conceiH. He delighted in 70
yersing existing conditions and popular conventions
with his pencil and here he has imagined wrestling
match IN which the principles arc living skeietons-
Japanese wrostlers as is well known. being always
enormously nat The Joke, Of course, IA addressed
10 Jspanose eyes, and no doubt hokled the public
midstn The grotssoueness Of the seone. however Is
sppsaers and IaugAsble enough without this explzna
ton.
Another scene In the land of their people shows
domestic quarrel the enraged couple being engage
IN mssting tho crockery and pounding ono another
White some equally emaciated neighbors attempt to
separate them and restore peace Plato g. ]. c. IN
tais number, is another charming study Of sparows
and bsmboos, but WITH an entire change of scene
Tnds time II is winter gray atmosphere and snow
baden bouxhs proclaim the severity Of the weather.
and the little birds arc budding together on bough,
sghting for places, chatterng with open beaks, ana
soothing with upbfcd wings. while at the extreme
era Of the iosg branch poor little chap ssems 70
have been banished, and Is kept at distance by me
aesce roear Of the sparrow nearest 70 him, who faces
the axile with the determination Of sentinel. Tho
shse& Of hasds OF blind people. BY Hokusai &C. F9 ap
posr too caxeatres though the editor is not Of that
ovfnion. not caricstures, these heads are certainly
nsrhed b. Hogsrthisn exaggeration, for nowhere DO
the blind eee such concentrated types OF ughness
chs variety OF expression is singlsriy great There
ora An this number some beautiful decorative designs,
shostng saoe Of outline and harmony Of oolorng and
wortaiiy illustrating tho resources of Japanese art
An the reproductive work In these numbers OF
SArssstis Japan Is carefully and admirably ex-
ecuted.