Japanese Art

Japanese art, usually in the form of lithographs, are some of the most beautiful and intriguing art works in the world. There are two prominent masters of the art. Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849) is most famous for “Under the Wave off Kanagawa” (often called “The Great Wave off Kanagawa”), part of his 36 Views of Mount Fuji series. The second painter whose works I like is Kawase Hasui (1883-1957). He is often referred to as the "painter of clouds," but I much prefer his winter scenes. I would call him the "painter of snow."

After visiting Japan (where I visited the Hokusai Museum), I also discovered an artist whose paintings decorate the Ninomaru Palace located in Nijo Castle in Kyoto. Tan’ yu (1602-1674) excelled at painting pine trees. The execution of pine needles and trunk are exceptional, but the asymmetrical balance is unmatched. Alamy has an image of one of his best.

Apart from paintings, Japanese architecture and furniture are also impressive. In the Ninomaru Palace I saw shelving (chigaidana) that was asymmetrical and well balanced. Unfortunately, as in the case of the pine tree paintings by Tan’ yu above, no photography was allowed inside the castle.

Hokusai - Under the Wave off Kanagawa

Kawase Hasui - Lake Teganuma

Kawase Hasui - Shiba Zojo Temple

Kawase Hasui - Miyajima in Snow

Kawase Hansui - Snow at Sinkyō Bridge, Nikkō

Benjamin Victor

Benjamin Victor is a modern sculptor keeping the classical tradition alive as the Classical Realist painters are. He has the distinction of having three of his sculptures in National Statuary Hall in the U.S. Capitol building, and he is working on his fourth. I am gratified that one of his statues (located in the Statuary Hall) is of the great Norman Borlaug. His website shows dozens of his works: he is quite prolific.

"Victor’s first work to receive attention was a life-size statue of the biblical character Samson, sculpted when the artist was a sophomore art major at Northern State University. The piece earned Victor a scholarship "in recognition of his aesthetic and conceptual integrity" from the prestigious National Sculpture Society in New York City. At age 23, Victor was commissioned to produce his proposal of a trio of soldiers for the Aberdeen Regional Airport War Memorial in South Dakota." (Source: Wikipedia)

Norman Borlaug

Sarah Winnemucca

Cecil E. Harris

Sabin Howard

Sabin Howard is modern sculptor keeping the classical tradition alive as the Classical Realist painters are. He does everything from intimate, still portrait style to more Greek-inspired statue to very large heroic scenes.

Sabin Howard at work

A portion of a war memorial

Tamara de Lempicka

Distinct from almost all the artists that I enjoy who are in the classical tradition, I really like the Art Deco inspired paintings of Tamara de Lempicka. No one could think of her as following the realist tradition in the classical sense. She seems to be inspired by the Cubist movement but retains a realist perspective. Her early paintings have the impressionist style of early Picasso. This early period began in 1918 and gradually developed into her own unique style by 1930.

Young Lady with Gloves, 1930

See the website devoted to her life and works at deLempicka.org

European Museums visit 2023

Kunsthistorische Museum, Vienna

• Saw paintings by Bernardo Bellotto who was nephew and student of Canaletto hence the similarity to his cityscapes. At first glance could be mistaken for Canaletto but all his works are darker. There were seven paintings there. His contrast of light and dark, particularly in intimate backstreet scenes, is better than his expansive views of palaces and grounds, though the picture of Schönbrunn Palace is very good. Two particularly good ones are Vienna, Dominican Church, and The Freyung in Vienna viewed from south east.
• There were two works by Canaletto and both are smaller than most of his works - about 24” x 18”. The Dogana in Venice is excellent. It has a great overall lightness to it with subtle shadows. Riva degli Schiavoni in Venice I found has too much the same lightness overall with very little gradation to shadow. It is an interesting composition but too much sky. Also the dilapidated buildings detract from the image.

Uffizi Gallery, Florence

San Marco Museum, Florence

Bargello Museum, Florence

Musea Brugge, Bruges

Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam