April 8, 1940
An exhibition of prints in the Ukiyoye style - which to the Japanese means, roughly, “the passing scene,” and which in this country would mean “popular art” - was put on view Sunday, April 7, at the Brooklyn Museum in the Print Gallery, 2nd floor, and will continue through Sunday, May 19.
At this time the Museum is showing some of its latest acquisitions, consisting of gifts by Miss Marion Cutter and Mr. Louis V. Ledoux, and Museum purchases from the George Tutle Collection. It includes such artists as: Utagawa Hiroshige, Katsushika Hokusai, Suzuki Harunobu, and Totoya Hokkei.
One of the rarest prints in the exhibition - which undoubtedly influenced James McNeill Whistler’s style — is by Hiroshige, and is one of only five known prints of its kind. There are several different impressions of the subject employing reds and blues, but this one is remarkable to collectors because it is in blue only.
The exhibition shows how expertly the Japanese solved, as far back as the 18th Century, a problem that is still perplexing this country; that is, to make available fine, attractive pictures at a low price. Many prints of the Ukiyoye School sold originally in Japan for a few cents.
Most of the Museum collection in this field is shown in this exhibition.
Brooklyn Museum Archives. Records of the Department of Public Information. Press releases, 1939 - 1941. 03-04/1940, 076. View Original
