A Japanese Bestiary, Maison de la Culture du Japon

 

A new show just opened at one of my favorite small museums in Paris ; a Japanese Bestiary at Maison de la Culture du Japon.

Organized with the Edo-Tokyo museum, more than 100 works of art showing how animals were integrated into quotidien life in Tokyo (18th - 19th century).

Expressed through a variety of woodblock prints, paintings, clothing and everyday objects. Here a scene of dueling horsemen perform in a public stadium surrounded by flowering cherry blossom trees in tones of delicate pink and green. 

A woman cleans a fish for dinner, printed in gorgeous earthy siennas and forest greens creating another subtle complimentary red-green color scheme in a triangulated design.

A gathering of well-dressed and coiffed women (perhaps at a tea party?) sit around an adored little dog on a silk cushion, listening to music on the koto.

A lively French circus scene (Cirque Soulie 1871) in sharp contrast to the ladies above. Each horse and rider is detailed and recognizable in the chaos of figures. Again a red-green color theme. 

In a fan-shaped woodblock print a man collects fireflies (hotaru) to put inside a hanging lantern. No insect or other small animal is too insignificant to be included in a work of art. 

Inside clam shells, miniature landscapes and animals are painted in gold. Little treasures to keep and observe. 

Maman gets her toddler ready for school just like any maman, while he pets a cat. I remember one hand feeding me oatmeal and another tying a shoelace. Always late for elementary school. A quotidien scene the world over. 

A tank of goldfish amuse lovers as a bird sings on its perch.

A bird seller offers elaborate cages for sale in a woodblock print - the actual bamboo cages on display side by side. 

Remember the Paris Sunday marché des oiseaux? It is still active post-pandemic I believe.

Beautiful silk kimonos are embroidered with decorative bird motifs. 

The iconic cat shows up in all kinds of artwork. Monet had the same ceramic cat on a cushion in his dining room.

Rare,exotic animals found in zoos held a deep fascination for everyday Tokyo citizens and were included in Japanese prints making the banal extraordinary. 

So what exactly is a bestiary? A bestiary (from bestiarum vocabulum) is a compendium of beasts. Originating in the ancient world, bestiaries were made popular in the Middle Ages in illustrated volumes that described various animals and even rocks. The natural history and illustration of each beast was usually accompanied by a moral lesson. 

Not to forget whimsical animals in Japanese toys included in the exhibit. The Japanese Cultural museum is a stone’s throw from the Eiffel Tower. They have a terrific gift shop on the ground floor and a place for an informal lunch. Plus performances and films! A too well-kept secret.

I am including some whimsical animal Christmas letters (mostly teddy bears with the occasional duck tureen…is that allowed?) in my Etsy shop that can be personalized. 

Whether petting rabbits, cleaning fish at home, a love and kindness for animals is always expressed at A Bestiary Japonaise on through 23 January 2023

🐆🐈‍⬛🦆🦒 🐻  Bon Thursday PBers 🐻🦒🦆🐈‍⬛🐆