This isn’t the typical winter wonderland. Sparrows fight for food near icy tree branches as the blues and reds of pheasants stand out against stark white snow and gray skies.
“Hiroshige: The Winter Scenes” has been on display at the Art Institute of Chicago, 111 S. Michigan Ave., since Oct. 15 and will run through Dec. 18. The exhibit includes some of the most well-known prints from 19th-century ukiyo-e (“floating world”) artist Utagawa Hiroshige. Hiroshige’s early work consisted of book illustrations, but he leaned more toward depictions of nature as he got older, becoming known as “the artist of rain, snow and mist.” Ukiyo-e art began in Edo, (modern day Tokyo), and was a popular artform when military and political power in Japan was in the hands of shoguns, and the country was greatly isolated from any global network.
The path to the Institute’s Gallery 107 is an adventure in itself. Walking through the glass doors, visitors see statues of Buddha and a granite Buddhist pagoda that welcome them to the Mitsubishi Bank Galleries of Chinese, Japanese and Korean Art. Though there’s only one entrance, the gallery is sectioned off, with three areas holding a different exhibit from each featured culture.
“The Buddhas here are amazing,” says Kalee Dankener, a student visiting Chicago, as she makes her way from the foyer through the maze of Asian art.
Off in a cozy corner rests The Clarence Bucking Collection of Japanese Woodblock Prints. This particular display, which rotates every six weeks, is named after a famous Chicago native who was known for having a world-class collection of Japanese woodblock prints.
Though the majority of the prints are hung on the walls, some have been paired with glazed Japanese stoneware in glass cases in the middle of the room that lead to a granite pagoda at one end. The color and detail of the art are amazing, especially when one considers the method: The designs are carved into a block of wood, the wood is painted and then the picture is stamped to the paper. Though this technique originally was used for religious works, it was secularized in the 17th century.
Some of the work may seem familiar, either because they appear on postcards or because the scenes are so universal that they depict aspects of modern life, even if they were made hundreds of years ago. The artwork captures every element of Japanese life at the time, from manual labor to war to the peace of nature. One of the most striking pieces shows two women walking. The landscape is snow-covered and the women hold their umbrellas to shield themselves from the winter elements – only it becomes apparent that as these women walk, the snow stops falling in their path. Like many of the other pieces, this puts an emphasis on the beauty and power of women. In many of the works, women’s faces are the only ones that can be seen.
And though all of his art is not about beauty, Hiroshige was able to capture stark aesthetic qualities in a photo of soldiers going to war. “The Approach of the Night Attack,” part of the series “The 47 Samurai,” frames soldiers prepared for battle marching across a bridge. The snowy scenery brings an ironic sense of peace to the image.
Some parts of the exhibit have the same print in different forms to show how the work changed with the publisher. “Camellias and Sparrow in Falling Snow” is one of these prints; it shows how important color is in setting the tone for art. The first print has the camellias and sparrows flying near snow-covered branches set against a bright blue sky, conveying a refreshing feeling. A later print is set against black and gray, and the contrast among snow, colorful birds and a dark sky changes the mood completely.
The main character of Next Theatre’s current show, The Long Christmas Ride Home, is actually inspired by woodblock prints, and the set design is based on ukiyo-e. This adaptation of the art is fitting – many original ukiyo-e prints were made as theater advertisements. In turn, the theater company is recommending that patrons, like Institute member Ruth Rosenfeld of Northbrook, Ill., see the Art Institute’s exhibit. “I’m looking forward to seeing the play and seeing if the art is captured,” Rosenfeld says.
With a cold Chicago winter fast approaching, it may be a good idea to check out Winter Scenes.
The Art Institute of Chicago is open Monday through Wednesday and Friday from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Thursday from 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. and weekends from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Student admission is $7. Admission is free Tuesday.
Medill sophomore Niema Jordan is a PLAY writer. She can be reached at [email protected].
