Art of the Japanese Postcard: Masterpieces fom the Leonard A. Lauder Collection

by Kendall H. Brown

From the late nineteenth to the early twentieth century, Japan was a vital world center for postcard art. More than just casual mail pieces, these postcards were often designed by prominent artists and had a visual impact that belied their modest format. Remarkably beautiful examples of graphic design in their own right, they also recorded the shifting definitions of “East” and “West” at a time when such European currents as Art Nouveau began to show up in Japanese visual productions. Art of the Japanese Postcard presents 300 full-color examples of these cards, culled from the vast Leonard A. Lauder Collection. They are astonishing not only for their beauty and the quality of their printing, but also for the insight they provide into contemporary Japanese artistic practices--insights not relayed in standard histories that focus on painting and sculpture--as well as for the fluid interplay of European and Japanese modes. Authoritative essays by leading scholars of Japanese art and culture, plus a statement by the collector himself, highlight the design, development, and cultural function of these rarely studied, but highly influential and visually exciting, expressions of graphic genius.

Genres: Art

288 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2004

Reviews

[Meghan Fidler · Rating 5 out of 5]

１８７３年に、日本は現代化と言う過程を途中で進歩しました。その時、葉書を書くという習慣が始め始まりました。葉書の印刷すると売るのは郵便局がせきにんをとりました。郵便局は政府で郵便局のルールを設けられるので、１８７３年から１９９０年の１１７年間に、日本の政府は葉書の絵を決めました。
　　たぶん、たくさん人は治国の絵が良くない絵を決め込んだと思いました。しかし、実はこれらのとても面白いです。例えば、１９０４年から１９０６年まで、郵政省は４枚重ね「日露戦争が勝つ！」と言う葉書を売りました。「日露戦争が勝つ！」と言う葉書の絵は、アールネヌーボーイルが描きました。その葉書はとてもきれいだったと思います。
葉書の前側に絵だけではなく、写真もよくありました。写真はよく有名な町を見せていました。現代、有名な町は横浜古い写真が数少なくなりましたので、博物館は町の話をかたるのため、大きさ葉書はかべにかかっています。この葉書は大切な物になりましたね。
政府もは有名な画家の絵を見めてあげます。美術館は時季のことを、新年とか、よく描きました。私の一番好きな葉書はアールデコのスタイル時季葉書です！日本に行くたびに、たくさん葉書を買います！

[Rachel Kopel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finally bought this book and it arrived this week. It is just beautiful and the introductory information is fascinating. I read a few pages each night and am being much inspired in my artwork as well.

And now, sadly, the book is over. Although I will keep it around for inspiration. It has been really nice reading. I am especially fond of the new years postcards since that is a Japanese tradition I was familiar with and enjoyed seeing more examples.

[Melissa Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely wonderful! Informative and well written chapters describing the cultural shift of Japan at the turn of the 20th century. I came away with a better understanding of the cultural undercurrent behind the postcards. The postcards that were cataloged were beautiful. The quality of the images in the book was superb. If you're a fan of ukiyoe you'll enjoy this book. If you like futurism, art deco and art nouveau, you'll like this book. If you like the fusion all of the above, you'll love this book.