Kuniyoshi at the RA
Went down to London yesterday to see the Kuniyoshi exhibition at the Royal Academy. It is closing in this weekend. It was well worth the trip. I love japanese woodblock prints (as well as japanese ceramics, calligraphy and garden design). Yes, as has been pointed out by many commentators, they look remarkably contemporary and the reason for this is at least partly to do with the similarity they bear to the clear line style of comics masters such as Herge. As Paul Gravett points out in an article in the Spring 2009 edition, No. 102, of the Royal Academy Magazine modern manga comics owe much to these classic prints. I love Paul Gravett's writing. Read the article on his site www.paulgravett.com/articles/articles.htm
Manga grew from a fusion of traditional japanese illustration and western comics style and animation. Post war japanese cartoonists supposedly appropriated the oversized eyes and large heads of disney characters and so developed the classic manga style of physiognomy.
We all know how western artists of the late nineteen and early twentieth century were influenced by woodblock prints from Japan. This exhibition shows how Japanese artists were also influenced by reproductions of western paintings- as evidenced by the european perspective used in "The Night Attack".
I was thrilled to see Kuniyoshi's animal cartoons, humorous and satirical depictions or anthropomorphic creatures that neatly sidestepped the rigorous censorship imposed by the ruling government which prevented depictions of many types of activity and of many famous people.
Glad I caught the last day of the exhibition
