New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-14
JAPANESE PRINTS.
Nezr and Interesting Erhibit at Edu-
catjOnaL Museum.

Roughly speaking, there are about go pictures
r the collection OF old japanese prints now on
exhibition IN The Educational Museum Of Teachers
College. the majority Of them dating prior 10
lE5o, while The Oldest 80 back about 1916. Among
This number are ten kakernonos and two scroll
pictures about thirJy-fve feet in length The latter
having been made before the art Of printing IN
color from wooden blocks was invented the draw
ing Is in black and white. while figures and bits
Of landscape which needed to be emphasized are
ooored by hand
Block printing is said 10 have been introduced
among the japanese somewhere about 1ssO-l71o
The blocks were OF wood. carved by hand and
separate block was needed for each color used in
Z given print One Of the marvellous things about
these prints is the precision with which he coors
doversiled one into another. without leaving
hare uncovered spaces or superimposing one color
upon another The original painting was destroyed
II the process Of making the print and the blocks
were themselves often thrown away after a set of
hundred or three hundred prints had been
made
Eokusai. the first japanese artist whose name
crossed the ocean and became familiar 20 Euro
pean and American ears, is represented by
number Of prints. According q typewrftten
statement which accompanies them. HOkusai was
born in -75-. and a. the age OF thirteen was ap-
prennoed 20 9 wood engraver. AZ the age OF If
teen he cur the blocks for q novel When he
about rwel-y-siX. he changed his name TO Mugura,
% slgnliy t2aJ ne vas lncepenqent q al schools;
and adopted the style which later be developed
OF school which won the greatest popularity
among the lower and middle classes. but to the
day a his death IN 1873 he was ignored and
oesplsed 10y The mobiles.
Ctamaro who was born 81 1874, the first
japanese artist ny his hand painting the
lower classes Before his time actors seem 70
nave been about the only class OF people who had
their portraits painted. Utamaro made speciality
q painting gelsha girls, and his women are said
70 have TIE refined grace and vOlUptuOusness Of the
Fon-ainebleau school. There are about q dozen
prints from his paintings exhibition
These prints range all over japanese life and
legend Women form the subjects q great many,
letter OF watching 2 snoWstOrnl, or washing her
-6ce- eIows-o-us In Japan are 50 rare. and when
lney 60 happen they are such pretty. opera boune
s0Wstcrns. that Il is Of the diversions Of the
japanese 70 20 out and watch them
sJne picture represents snOwstorrn that IS over
SheLinlng mother and her three children This
y q famous picture and Il illustrates q story o.
leeen1. 50 that every one knows the mother IS
leeng with her three children and that there are
tnree OF them but she holds her paper sun UNI
ore-la 50 close down over them thar only bit OF
ne rock q one IS Clsclngulshabie. The mothers
other prints II IS the japanese wornan's face.
ne type face. the mask behind which she hides
he-s-I. and II il without individuality age OF
AesSlon. The mother who protects her children
expresses the same emotion In her face that the
woman with the love letter expresses in hers. and
peasant woman who IS bringing salt water IN buck
IS across her shoulders says in hers, and that Is
nothing.
There are many Landscapes. battle pieces. his
toracal pieces studies = heads, and so on Some OF
ne oder prints are peculiarly mellow and rich IN
oepL sundsy. from q a. n. 70 s ?. N. 20 Deem
Der T.