Made in Japan
Color Woodblock Prints by Hiroshige, Kunisada and Hokusai
The motifs in Japanese colored woodcuts have long-since formed part of popular and consumer culture: Views of Mount Fuji, impressions of the Cherry Blossom Festival and portraits of fabled warriors belong to our pictorial world. They shape our ideas of Japan. This artistic movement has been a source of fascination for the past 200 years, a fascination shared by Dr. Carl Mettler (1877–1942). The Basel based chemist amassed an elaborate collection of these woodcuts virtually in secret. Indebted in no small degree to Mettler, the Kupferstichkabinett is home to some 350 original works from this unique collection. Several among the prints, formerly produced in high-volume editions, are now only to be found in a handful of copies worldwide and—unknown to the public until now—in Basel.
The exhibition displays a cross-section of works dating from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, the golden age of Japanese woodblock printing, of whom Katsushika Hokusai (1760–1849) is most probably the best-known representative. The works of Utagawa Hiroshige (1797–1858) similarly contributed to the medium's widespread popularity within Europe. The most prolific and succsesful among these artists during his lifetime was Utagawa Kunisada (1786–1865). Far less known in our part of the world are artists of the likes of Tōshūsai Sharaku and Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1798–1861), who, along with Kunisada, produced expressive images of actors and such other idealised figures. Reminiscent of graphic novels, the protagonists of these action-packed heroic tales are also on display to be marvelled at. Along with Views of Edo, Mettler’s cosmos also included Hiroshige’s most iconic series 53 Stations of the Tōkaidō: These depict the seasonal transitions in Edo (present-day Tokyo) and along the Tōkaidō highway that links the seat of government, Edo, with the imperial capital, Kyōto.
Made in Japan at the Kunstmuseum Basel, offers visitors the opportunity to rediscover an otherwise familiar art form. As on your journey to the Land of the Rising Sun, you will encounter an outstanding collection of Japanese woodcuts.
Online ticket
Buy your ticket for the exhibition now.
"Made in Japan" at Fantasy Basel 2024
The Kunstmuseum in Basel will be represented with a photo wall for the exhibition “Made in Japan. Woodblock Prints by Hiroshige, Kunisada and Hokusai” at this year's Fantasy Basel (The Swiss Comic Con) from May 9 to 11, 2024.
Catalogue
The exhibition catalog published by Judith Rauser and Hans Bjarne Thomsen
The exhibition is supported by:
- Dr. Samuel Werenfels
- Stiftung für das Kunstmuseum Basel
Events for this exhibition
NEUBAU
11:00–12:00
Abundantly alive: Collecting East Asian Art
FULLY BOOKED!
With the curators Hans Bjarne Thomsen and Judith Rauser, Costs: admission + CHF 5.
HAUPTBAU Atelier
11:00–13:00
Mokuhanga Farbholzschnitt–Workshop
FULLY BOOKED!
In German. Mit Baren und Blockpinsel drucken: Du bist die Presse! Mit Ayako Kyodo. Kosten: CHF 10.
Treffpunkt: Hauptbau | Atelier Bildung & Vermittlung
NEUBAU
13:00–14:00
Von Comme des Garçons zu Cosplay
AUSGEBUCHT!
In German. Gemeinsam mit Expert:innen Nils Amadeus Lange und Eva Katharina Bühler aus dem Bereich Mode legen wir in dieser Führung den Fokus auf modische Einflüsse aus Japan. Welche Silhouette formt ein Kimono? Was reizt uns am japanischem Minimalismus und was an fantastischen Manga-Ästhetiken?Kosten: Eintritt + CHF 5, Ticket erforderlich via Ticketlink.
HAUPTBAU Atelier
14:00–16:00
Mokuhanga Color Woodcut Workshop
FULLY BOOKED!
Mit Baren und Blockpinsel drucken: Du bist die Presse! Mit Ayako Kyodo. Kosten: CHF 10.
Treffpunkt: Hauptbau | Atelier Bildung & Vermittlung
NEUBAU
16:00–17:00
Das Resistente grösser machen
In German. Mit der Schriftstellerin Friederike Kretzen zu ihrem Projekt einer literarischen Annäherung an Japan, Kosten: Eintritt + CHF 5.
NEUBAU
12:30–13:00
Rendez-vous am Mittag: Alles Theater. Farbholzschnitt und Kabuki-Kult
In German. Mit der Kuratorin Judith Rauser. Kosten: Eintritt.
NEUBAU
18:30–19:30
Abundantly alive: Collecting East Asian Art
With the curators Hans Bjarne Thomsen and Judith Rauser. Guided Tour in the exhibition «Made in Japan» on the visual worlds of Japanese printmaking in European, Swiss and Basel collections. Costs: CHF 5. Ticket via Ticketlink.
NEUBAU
18:30–19:30
Von Comme des Garçons zu Cosplay
In German. Mit Nils Amadeus Lange und Eva Katharina Bühler von der Fachhochschule für Gestaltung und Kunst Basel FHNW. Führung zu Fashion und zur Verwandlung des Körpers in der Ausstellung «Made in Japan». Gemeinsam mit Expert:innen aus dem Bereich Mode legen wir in dieser Tandemführung den Fokus auf modische Einflüsse aus Japan. Welche Silhouette formt ein Kimono? Was reizt uns am japanischem Minimalismus und was an fantastischen Manga-Ästhetiken? Kosten: CHF 5.
FÜHRUNG
HAUPTBAU
15:00–16:00
Führung in der Ausstellung «Made in Japan. Farbholzschnitte von Hiroshige, Kunisada und Hokusai»
In German. Kosten: Eintritt + CHF 5.
INSPIRED BY HER
NEUBAU
17:00–17:45
Inspired by her: Feministiche Perspektiven auf japanischen Holzschnitten
In German. Mit der Kunstvermittlerin Katharina Georgi. Führung zu aktuellen weiblichen Positionen im Kunstmuseum Basel. Kosten: CHF 5.
FÜHRUNG
HAUPTBAU
15:00–16:00
Führung in der Ausstellung «Made in Japan. Farbholzschnitte von Hiroshige, Kunisada und Hokusai»
In German. Kosten: Eintritt + CHF 5.
