Special Exhibition for Fiscal Year 2026: "The World of Taisho Imagery"

Contents

• 0.1 Content
• 0.2 Exhibition composition
• 0.3 Supervision
• 0.4 cooperation
• 0.5 Planning Cooperation
• 1 Main exhibited works
  • 1.1 Featured Exhibits
• 2 Related Events

Content

 During the Taisho and early Showa periods, a time when diverse popular culture flourished, publishing culture developed in Japan, supported by innovations in printing technology.

Painters such as Fujishima Takeji, Hashiguchi Goyo, and Takehisa Yumeji, who were exploring new methods of expression at the time, created their own unique forms of expression while keeping pace with the trends in the contemporary art world, and captured people's hearts.

Eventually, graphic designers such as Hisui Sugiura emerged, and they had a significant impact on modern design.

 This exhibition introduces popular reproductions of images that appeared around this time, such as book covers, illustrations, posters, and postcards, collectively referred to as "imagerie," a French term meaning "imagery."

Imagery, which captivated people at the time and added beauty to everyday life, can be considered the origin of modern design and illustration.

Enjoy the modern, unique, stylish, and charming world of Taisho-era imagery.

Exhibition composition

 Part 1: Artists of Taisho Imagery

Fujishima Takeji / Sugiura Hisui / Hashiguchi Goyo / Sakamoto Shigejiro / Takehisa Yumeji / Tomimoto Kenkichi / Takabatake Kasho /

Matsugoro Hirokawa / Ryusei Kishida / Koyume Tachibana / Harue Koga / Kaichi Kobayashi / Koji Fukiya



Part 2: Various Designs (Imagery)

Imagery of Elan Vital / Imagery of Ukiyo-e / Imagery of the earthquake / Imagery of children and young women /

Imagery of bizarre beauty / Imagery of Kyoto Art Deco / Imagery of cutting-edge cities /

Imagery of emerging design / Imagery of popular culture

Supervision

 Toshiyuki Yamada (Former Professor at Tezukayama Gakuin University)

cooperation

 Taisho Imagery Society

Planning Cooperation

 Curators Co., Ltd.

Main exhibited works

 Book design by Goyo Hashiguchi / Written by Soseki Natsume, "I Am a Cat," Part 2

Third edition, 1907 / First edition, 1907, Okura Shoten / Hattori Shoten 

 Hisui Sugiura, "Two Cuts," Appendix 4 of "Hisui Monthly Designs," Vol. 1, No. 1.

1918, Kanao Bunendo 

 Takehisa Yumeji, "Only I Can Know the Troubles of My Heart" (Senoo Musical Score No. 27)

1924, 6th edition / 1916, 1st edition, Senoo Music Publishing Co.

Featured Exhibits

 Book design by Matsugoro Hirokawa / Written by Kenji Miyazawa, "Spring and Asura"

(1924, Sekine Shoten)

This exhibition features a first edition of Kenji Miyazawa's "Spring and Asura," crafted by Matsugoro Hirokawa, a dyeing artist who was active from the Taisho to Showa periods.

Related Events

• Commemorative lecture "The Charm of Taisho Imagery" (Concluded)
• Workshop "Making Taisho-era Imagery Book Covers" (Completed)
• Workshop: "Taisho Romance-style Stained Glass Making"
• Adult workshop: "Stained Glass Style Lampshade Craft"
• Workshop: Making decorative paper boxes using Narushima washi paper