Tuesday 9 February 2010

Bookcase Tour Tuesday - Changing Faces

I'm heading to Canada today for a few weeks, so I'm not sure I'm going to be able to do bookcase posts, but wanted to sqeeze in this week's museum catalogue for Bookcase Tour Tuesday.




This week I chose a small catalogue I picked up at Osaka Castle a few years ago. Unfortunately I missed the actual exhibit, held in 2005, but the catalogue somewhat makes up for that. The title of the exhibit translates into English as "Faces of Hideoyoshi - Changing Images." Representations of the famous general, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, dating from his lifetime (late 16th century) to the 1920s. They are presented by type, with hanging scrolls,



illustrated screens,


woodblock prints,


and oil paintings.



I love the way numerous images from similar types are presented side by side for easy comparison, and that each is presented with information about the individual artwork. To a history nerd like me it is a fascinating comparison of different representations of a single historical figure.

3 comments:

  1. Very interesting. I guess the hat styles really matter as an indication of when the painting was done. Nerdy. Cath

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  2. What a great looking face.... well,...the whole painting is great...

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  3. Cath - the exhibt does inspire a lot of thought about changes over time, how we see historical figures, how they're represented, what is represented... I love the idea of the exhibit!

    BubleVee - thanks for commenting! I loved lots of these images too, especially noticing the similarities and differences.

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