New 8 Views of Japan
- Medium:
- Woodblock print
- Edition:
- Self-printed
- Source:
- Art of Japan
Description
"New 8 Views of Japan" parodies or extends the classical Chinese tradition of "Eight Views" (Xiaoxiang baing) — a set of eight idealized landscape subjects that became a canonical format for Japanese and Chinese artists — by updating the convention with eight views of contemporary or modern Japan. Where classical "eight views" depicted mist over lakes and autumn moonlight over mountains, Kawakami's "new" version likely presented eight aspects of the Japan he knew and loved: the Ginza at night, a department store, the great torii, the harbor at Nagasaki.
More Prints by Sumio Kawakami
![Title unknown [Flowers in a vase] by Sumio Kawakami](https://1.api.artsmia.org/800/135636.jpg)
More Landscapes Prints
Lake Kugushi in Wakasa Province (Wakasa Kugushiko), from the series Souvenirs of Travel I (Tabi miyage dai isshu)"
Wakasa Kugushiko
1920
Color woodblock print; oban
Autumn Maple Leaves at Takao, from the album Eight Views of Kyoto (Kyôto hakkei)
Woodblock print
The Beach at Kaiganji in Sanuki Province (Sanuki Kaiganji no hama), from the series "Collection of Views of Japan II, Kansai Edition (Nihon fukei shu II Kansai hen)"
1934
Color woodblock print; oban
Tea Kettle, section of a sheet from the series "Mirror of Stone Rubbings of Views of the Provinces" (Kohon meihitsu ishizuri kagami)
n.d.
Woodblock print; ishizuri-e, section of harimaze sheet
Featured in Collections
Curated cross-cuts that include this print.
Frequently Asked Questions
New 8 Views of Japan was created by Sumio Kawakami (川上澄生).
New 8 Views of Japan depicts landscapes.