TOKYO: THE IMPERIAL CAPITAL: Woodblock Prints

On the 1st of September 1923 at 11:58 AM, an earthquake struck Tokyo and eastern Japan with devastating force. A vigorous rebuilding campaign restored the city and transformed it into the imperial capital. One of the woodblock print artists who captured the drama of its rebirth was Koizumi Kishio (1893-1945) who created One Hundred Pictures of Great Tokyo in the Showa Era from 1928 to 1940. The Wolfsonian's portfolio of Koizumi's prints sets the stage for an exhibition depicting the evolution of a key Asian city as it embraced modernity, maintained traditions, and became the backdrop for the militaristic ambitions of empire. These images are a pantheon of impressive views, from modern facilities such as Haneda airport to nostalgic renderings of revered ancient temples. In absolutely dreamy blues and yellows, greens and reds, it may be snow at the Sakurada Gate in 1936, an important gateway in the imperial palace grounds, the site of political calamities and assassination or outside the Meiji shrine, a department store, the subway in 1937, storage tanks, the Imperial Hotel or domestic scenes, street life, or bridges and ports and parks and avenues, all beautifully rendered in these full page colour woodblock prints. Outsize softback, 21.5 x 28cm, 102 pages.