As ever Jane, many thanks for reporting such a find- an inspiring start to the day and a welcome respite from chaos. Patterns are a way of controlled order perhaps!
Japanese fabric shops are places of utter wonder. The patterns on those kimonos still look very recognisable today - there’s an entire fabric district in Tokyo where you could easily spend days, or indeed a week (or two), just gazing in awe. Then spending your entire holiday budget….
Looks like a fantastic show and as usual, your insights and the connections you draw are spot on. What I really love about those prints is that they show how kimono were/are actually worn—how the undergarments, obis and accessories are combined, which kimono exhibitions don’t convey with garments stretched out and isolated as works of art. The Japanese aesthetic combines pattern, color, and texture in ways that at first glance might seem discordant to a Western eye, but always creates a total ensemble that’s fresh, lively and elegant.
Thank you, Jane, for opening my eyes to yet more beauty. I’m in London til Tuesday and now plan to visit this exhibition. So thank you again.
By fortunate stroke of serendipity, last night we chanced talking to an American couple in a pub in Red Lion Street. Ellen, librarian from Boston, and I bonded over birthday dates and then I discovered she is a huge fan of PBs and you (she attended your talk at PBs 25th last year). If I can use your Substack to track her…
ELLEN, I’m in 125 Premier Inn by the pub until Tuesday. Pease leave your email address.
Many thanks for another joyous start to my Sunday.
Morning, thank you Jane for sharing this beautiful exhibition, it blew me away too with the incredible detail in the fabrics. The way the pattern continues within the folds of the fabric. Gorgeous x happy Sunday.
I absolutely loved this post! I got completely lost in the patterns, and the details. Did you notice the bats on the bamboo fan that the women holds in her mouth?
Wow! I've been reading (and looking) since your newsletter arrived on Sunday, following all the links, to fully absorb your fascinating exploration, and enjoy such a glorious feast of art. Thank you for your work and sharing!
This article made me pull out my copy of Fashion and the Floating World (published by the V&A a few months ago) and look at everything anew. Have you seen it, Jane? Lots of lovely details about hair combs, make up and - of course - the textile designs.
Such a great read! Fascinating breadth of information here; useful and inspiring in equal measure. Looking on the British Museum website there are a couple of YouTube videos to watch. One about the exhibition with the curator and one about wood blocking. Both look like they’ll add to my knowledge. Thank you Jane!
As ever Jane, many thanks for reporting such a find- an inspiring start to the day and a welcome respite from chaos. Patterns are a way of controlled order perhaps!
Japanese fabric shops are places of utter wonder. The patterns on those kimonos still look very recognisable today - there’s an entire fabric district in Tokyo where you could easily spend days, or indeed a week (or two), just gazing in awe. Then spending your entire holiday budget….
Looks like a fantastic show and as usual, your insights and the connections you draw are spot on. What I really love about those prints is that they show how kimono were/are actually worn—how the undergarments, obis and accessories are combined, which kimono exhibitions don’t convey with garments stretched out and isolated as works of art. The Japanese aesthetic combines pattern, color, and texture in ways that at first glance might seem discordant to a Western eye, but always creates a total ensemble that’s fresh, lively and elegant.
Thank you, Jane, for opening my eyes to yet more beauty. I’m in London til Tuesday and now plan to visit this exhibition. So thank you again.
By fortunate stroke of serendipity, last night we chanced talking to an American couple in a pub in Red Lion Street. Ellen, librarian from Boston, and I bonded over birthday dates and then I discovered she is a huge fan of PBs and you (she attended your talk at PBs 25th last year). If I can use your Substack to track her…
ELLEN, I’m in 125 Premier Inn by the pub until Tuesday. Pease leave your email address.
Many thanks for another joyous start to my Sunday.
Hello Sue, we are in Deal, not back in London for a week. We’ll go to the BM then and we can discuss. ellenwalsh7@gmail.com
Enjoy Deal! We go home tomorrow.
suekey57@gmail.com
Growing up in LA I'm very familiar with this art but hadn't linked it with the work of Bonnard etc. I love your last paragraph on repleteness!
Morning, thank you Jane for sharing this beautiful exhibition, it blew me away too with the incredible detail in the fabrics. The way the pattern continues within the folds of the fabric. Gorgeous x happy Sunday.
How lovely to find Hiroshige and Bonnard, two of my favourites in the one post! A wonderful read, thankyou!
I absolutely loved this post! I got completely lost in the patterns, and the details. Did you notice the bats on the bamboo fan that the women holds in her mouth?
I've seen a fabulous exhibition of Hiroshige's prints at the Ashmolean. I prefer his style to that of Hokusai. Thanks for sharing these lovely prints.
Wow! I've been reading (and looking) since your newsletter arrived on Sunday, following all the links, to fully absorb your fascinating exploration, and enjoy such a glorious feast of art. Thank you for your work and sharing!
Fabulous ! Such fine detail discovered and described beautifully. Thank you
This article made me pull out my copy of Fashion and the Floating World (published by the V&A a few months ago) and look at everything anew. Have you seen it, Jane? Lots of lovely details about hair combs, make up and - of course - the textile designs.
Thank you for taking us along to that splendid exhibition in the comfort of your pocket.
Planning to go to Hiroshige in July and will book in advance at the least busy time I can find! Lovely overview.
Such a great read! Fascinating breadth of information here; useful and inspiring in equal measure. Looking on the British Museum website there are a couple of YouTube videos to watch. One about the exhibition with the curator and one about wood blocking. Both look like they’ll add to my knowledge. Thank you Jane!
Enjoyed the Hiroshige and thanks for the link to the work of Evelina Kroon. What amazing combinations of color and geometric patterns.