Harunobu Suzuki
Before exploring this piece in particular I thought I'd give you some background information on this classic Japanese art form. Woodblock Printing is actually renowned for being extremely challenging to complete. The production of these pieces usually includes the help and work of multiple people. To achieve the finished beautiful ending product the artists and specialists would have to first undergo multiple steps to finalize production. The first roles of the publisher and the artist and the crucial roles of the project. The artist runs every step by the publisher, the artist also sketches the first preliminary outline for the woodblock pattern and then traces it in black and white ink just to solidify the outlines of the image then he passes it on the the carver. The carvers role in this process is to put the white mountain cherry wood ( one specifically chosen so it would no warp) underneath the outlined paper (with the image), once the wood was underneath the image the carver would then apply some kind of oil to reveal the desired black lines of the design made by the artist. Once the e first block for the black ink was done, one block had to be made for every other color remaining color of the design ( this step of the process takes days to complete). After the carver finished extensive work on the piece the printers would handle the finishing touches. The printers actually made the ink (homemade!) for every printing after this they would use the ink they made and apply it to the block with brushes. Keep in mind these printers are the ones who gave depth and shading to the art.
After this extensive artistic process is finished much of the art comes out as pristine examples of the Japanese culture. With delicate colors and fine black lines these Woodblock Printings become representations of their culture, the artists and society as a whole during the era they were made. One example of this artistic for is the Woodblock Printing that caught my eye at the Palmer Museum ( towards the west end of Penn State Campus) its title is Ishiyamadera Shugetsu. This particular Woodblock representation caught my eye amidst a room fully devoted to Japanese Woodblock Printing. This printing is a depiction of a Japanese writer Marasoni Shikibu sitting in the temple Ishiyama to write the famous and classic Japanese romance The Tale of Genji. This tale not only is renowned for its complex story line and language, but it is also considered the worlds first legitimate novel and by many people the worlds first psychological novel. Marasoni Shikibu during her time a thousand years ago as a lady of Heian Court of Japan used and adapted the complex language and the poetic conversation of the time for the story's main purpose was to entertain the court. During Shikibu's time Japanese literature mostly consisted of collections of poetry maybe including some select memoirs of the time.
During the ear of the Heian Court ( A.D. 794-1185) the so called "courtiers" of the court system were never seen or heard from. They were allowed to be seen by two people in their lives their father and their husband. However on normal days where the men would carry on duties for the court the women were kept in confined rooms away from society and unseen by the public. For very much of their lives the courtiers of this era had no idea what was going on within their own society. These women were judged on their script, writing of poetry and breeding potential. So as these women were kept from society and kept from the "living" aspect of life they found escapes through novels, through stories and poetry about crazy romance where the woman was literally swept away by her night in shining armour through the bleak and cold nights. These stories of passion and life would keep them from struggles within their own life. Who doesn't like a good story once in a while to distract you from your life? Everyone uses novels such as this one to forget the unforgettable for at least a few minutes of our day.
So now today we have this representation of Shikibu sitting and beginning her novel. A woman who once within society was shielded from the public, not see by anyone is now seen by thousands ( probably even more) people around the world every single year. This piece to me represents this unfolding of Japanese courtier women onto society. These rare gems ( women ) were once kept from society and hidden not allowed to show their true beauty or collect their worth. This block printing represents the times changing, women are today becoming gradually equal members of society, we are able to hold our own. This piece marks the beginning of a change and the beginning of influential women in history.
This piece's claim for me as a woman of the twenty first century plays on both logos and pathos. This printing displays logos because it historically in known as the beginning of influential women in history and the first defiance of ones "status quo" position. This is the start of a very long timeline for women around the world not only in Asia. This crucial moment in history has been kept from my mind my entire life until this very day. Personally I feel inspired that a woman of a sexist court about a thousand years ago wrote what has come to be known as the first psychological novel written. The most interesting part of this Woodblock printing in particular for my eyes was the soft peach color pallet and the dark wash green. It set itself apart from the other printings (that were harsh and bright in color). That coincides with the statement it secretly makes, women can be soft and pretty, women can be pleasant to the eye, women can stand out and women can also go down in history. Even through the outlines of the painting are faint and hard to see the image remains credible (it isn't supposed to be an exact portrait of the writer). This classic printing's message will clearly and boldly go down in history for many years to come.
The Palmer Museum is and interesting place to look at art. It's a culture mixed of residents of State College (that probably make a ritual visit every week), new Penn State students just finding something to fill their time between classes and devoted Art viewers from across the country. The atmosphere is nice and calm and quiet. The paintings are as grand and pottery as diverse as they would get in say a New York museum or ones in Philadelphia with no cost to the appreciative audience. Of course I'd go again! This was one of many visits of mine! I remember in seventh grade going on a field trip to the Plamer to sketch the museums architecture to learn about landscape and perspective(then of course we took a look inside the museum as well)! All in all I'd say this little quaint museum has its perks its easy and low key to enjoy. My personal favorite aspect of the museum is the collection of pottery from around the world and throughout different eras. For me these "unknown artist" works have a sort of romance to them. You can imagine these vases in someones living room full of bloomed flowers they just picked from their own garden. Or heavy and full of all the grain they have for the rest of the season. My point is they are relatable, they are examples of real art that has lived, they are imaginable in your own kitchen back home, or on a shelf in your grandmothers living room. That's the art I truly appreciate and that's what the Plamer can give me. Sure the huge paintings are beautiful and breath taking but I'll I think when I see them is "Fudge I'd never be able to paint that even if my life depended on it!" Sure once in a while seeing some bigger then life portraits of some old man with a really strange mustache is just what I need but who finds that extremely relatable?
During the ear of the Heian Court ( A.D. 794-1185) the so called "courtiers" of the court system were never seen or heard from. They were allowed to be seen by two people in their lives their father and their husband. However on normal days where the men would carry on duties for the court the women were kept in confined rooms away from society and unseen by the public. For very much of their lives the courtiers of this era had no idea what was going on within their own society. These women were judged on their script, writing of poetry and breeding potential. So as these women were kept from society and kept from the "living" aspect of life they found escapes through novels, through stories and poetry about crazy romance where the woman was literally swept away by her night in shining armour through the bleak and cold nights. These stories of passion and life would keep them from struggles within their own life. Who doesn't like a good story once in a while to distract you from your life? Everyone uses novels such as this one to forget the unforgettable for at least a few minutes of our day.
So now today we have this representation of Shikibu sitting and beginning her novel. A woman who once within society was shielded from the public, not see by anyone is now seen by thousands ( probably even more) people around the world every single year. This piece to me represents this unfolding of Japanese courtier women onto society. These rare gems ( women ) were once kept from society and hidden not allowed to show their true beauty or collect their worth. This block printing represents the times changing, women are today becoming gradually equal members of society, we are able to hold our own. This piece marks the beginning of a change and the beginning of influential women in history.
This piece's claim for me as a woman of the twenty first century plays on both logos and pathos. This printing displays logos because it historically in known as the beginning of influential women in history and the first defiance of ones "status quo" position. This is the start of a very long timeline for women around the world not only in Asia. This crucial moment in history has been kept from my mind my entire life until this very day. Personally I feel inspired that a woman of a sexist court about a thousand years ago wrote what has come to be known as the first psychological novel written. The most interesting part of this Woodblock printing in particular for my eyes was the soft peach color pallet and the dark wash green. It set itself apart from the other printings (that were harsh and bright in color). That coincides with the statement it secretly makes, women can be soft and pretty, women can be pleasant to the eye, women can stand out and women can also go down in history. Even through the outlines of the painting are faint and hard to see the image remains credible (it isn't supposed to be an exact portrait of the writer). This classic printing's message will clearly and boldly go down in history for many years to come.
The Palmer Museum is and interesting place to look at art. It's a culture mixed of residents of State College (that probably make a ritual visit every week), new Penn State students just finding something to fill their time between classes and devoted Art viewers from across the country. The atmosphere is nice and calm and quiet. The paintings are as grand and pottery as diverse as they would get in say a New York museum or ones in Philadelphia with no cost to the appreciative audience. Of course I'd go again! This was one of many visits of mine! I remember in seventh grade going on a field trip to the Plamer to sketch the museums architecture to learn about landscape and perspective(then of course we took a look inside the museum as well)! All in all I'd say this little quaint museum has its perks its easy and low key to enjoy. My personal favorite aspect of the museum is the collection of pottery from around the world and throughout different eras. For me these "unknown artist" works have a sort of romance to them. You can imagine these vases in someones living room full of bloomed flowers they just picked from their own garden. Or heavy and full of all the grain they have for the rest of the season. My point is they are relatable, they are examples of real art that has lived, they are imaginable in your own kitchen back home, or on a shelf in your grandmothers living room. That's the art I truly appreciate and that's what the Plamer can give me. Sure the huge paintings are beautiful and breath taking but I'll I think when I see them is "Fudge I'd never be able to paint that even if my life depended on it!" Sure once in a while seeing some bigger then life portraits of some old man with a really strange mustache is just what I need but who finds that extremely relatable?
References:
No comments:
Post a Comment