Thursday, November 10, 2022

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 🐻🦒🦆🐈‍⬛🐆 


24 comments:

  1. Another fun exhibit to see while we are in Paris! Happily we did see birds at the market last Sunday. Perhaps fewer than before though.

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    1. Anonymous6:11 AM

      Definitely worthwhile Cindy. The museum is a stone’s throw from the Eiffel Tower. They have a cute shop on the ground floor and a place for an informal lunch. Plus performances and films!

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    2. Anonymous6:11 AM

      I was hoping that info was wrong on the marché des oiseaux

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  2. You are always expanding my horizons, Carol! Merci! xxoo

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    1. Anonymous10:43 AM

      And I get to expand mine in the process :))

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  3. What a treat to be able to see this! I was drawn to the man collecting fireflies for his lantern.🗼❤️

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    1. Anonymous10:58 AM

      More info on the fireflies (hotaru): During the Meiji period (1868–1912), when thousands of fireflies decorated the night sky, firefly tourism boomed – city-dwellers flocking to the country to admire their beauty. It soon morphed into commercial firefly hunting: fireflies were the height of fashion, and worth good money. Firefly wholesalers set up shop in well-known firefly haunts such as Moriyama, with hunters capable of capturing up to 3,000 fireflies per night. In the morning, they’d send the night’s catch to clients in Osaka, Kyoto, and Tokyo, where fireflies were used to adorn hotels, restaurants, and gardens, city-dwellers marvelling at their luminous beauty.
      https://eldvarm.com/stories-by-the-fire/fireflies-in-japanese-art/

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    2. Anonymous2:41 AM

      Thank you Carol for taking the time to find this “illuminating” information. I think we all loved catching fireflies ( I called them lightening bugs) as kids. I noticed particularly this summer there just a few & for a very short time. I used to get a glass jar, put leaf, grass, stick, punch holes in the lid & watch them for a while. Hope my grandsons will be able to enjoy such simple pleasures❤️

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  4. Bonnie L8:32 AM

    Beautiful prints. You could spend hours looking at the fine details. I can see why this is one of your favorite small museums, Carol. Another interesting exhibit. ❤️

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    1. Anonymous11:05 AM

      Their exhibits are not overwhelming in size, yet always offer depth and a layered approach. They give you a sense of Japanese culture.

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  5. Anonymous9:26 AM

    Regarding that first picture, I am all too well acquainted with how certain animals are a part of my daily life 😂 jeanette sclar

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    1. Anonymous10:40 AM

      Oh Jeanette Your life is still dominated by les lapins! How can this be? Have you considered moving…doesn’t the hound put them off 😊 I feel your pain.

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  6. Monique12:36 PM

    I do remember the bird market..☺️A bit helter skelter.I still have a book from my childhood that I loved from my mom..Contes et Légendes du Japon

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    1. Anonymous2:12 PM

      That book is still available Monique. A classic.

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  7. Collecting fireflys was always one of my favorite summer activities. We did it almost every night.

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    1. Anonymous2:09 PM

      Lightening bugs 😊

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  8. Anonymous2:09 PM

    Another interesting & appreciated lesson. Maybe you like to run. Looked for rabbit & full moon in Japanese paintings but alas, none. I don't recall the meaning, just that I liked the story & ways they showed up in paintings. Beverly

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    1. Anonymous2:14 PM

      I am sure it was there. I am not a runner. Only a 🏊‍♀️

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    2. Anonymous2:20 PM

      Folklore throughout Asia has long held the rabbit as a symbol of rebirth that is commonly taken to represent the moon. Following the lunar calendar, the yearly Mid-Autumn festival brings about stories of the Moon Goddess and her steadfast companion, the noble Moon Rabbit.
      https://www.sothebys.com/en/articles/moon-rabbits-leaping-hares-and-emblems-of-rebirth-in-art

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  9. Anonymous2:13 PM

    I went to Etsy…your Christmas letters are adorable and fun! They will make great gifts for my francophile friends! And, good stocking stuffers.

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  10. Anonymous9:31 PM

    This has to be one of my favorites. So damn charming and art work is exceptional. Lovely Lynne

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    1. Anonymous9:34 PM

      Thanks, I’m glad you enjoyed it.
      I find animals irresistible
      I wish I had a menagerie 🐈‍⬛🐆🐻🦆🐰🦒

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  11. Thank you for this trip to Japan/France two of my most favorite places to visit. How great there is this small Japanese exhibition you can visit in Paris.

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  12. Anonymous5:03 PM

    Dear Carol, thank you for sharing this wonderful exhibit with us. I am a real Japanophile so it is always delightful to see bits of the Japanese culture.

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