James Tissot
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14 May - 12 June 1988 Hours: 9:30a.m.- 5:00 p.m. Admission: charged |
Summer |
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An exhibition on James (Jacques Joseph)Tissot has never been held in Japan, and we are especially pleased to be able to provide this opportunity to show in five museums the accomplishments and contributions of this artist. James Tissot, who was born in Nantes, France in 1836, has been undergoing reappraisal in recent years, and interest in his work has been further increased by the exhibitions held in 1984-5 at the Barbican Art Gallery in London, the Whitworth Art Gallery in Manchester, and the Musee du Petit Palais in Paris. Tissot's links with Japan date back to the early 1860s. He was one of the earliest collectors of Japanese arts and crafts, which were then starting to become the vogue in London and Paris. His works often reflect the Japonaiserie that developed in him through his close association with Manet, Degas and Whistler. Then, with the Exposition Universa11e in 1867, Tissot had the opportunity to come into even more direct contact with Japan. Evidence of this can be seen in a portrait he painted of Prince Tokugawa Akitake who visited France as the head of the delegation sent by the Tokugawa shogunate. The recent discovery of this watercolor by Professor Chuji Ikegami of Kobe University and his report confiming that Tissot was appointed Akitake's drawing instructor are fascinating additions to the study of Tissot. New discoveries are often made during the organization and development of an exhibition. In the present case as well, several major works were located, and they are here shown publicly for the first time. We hope that this initial exhibition and its accompanying publication will allow a new audience unfamiliar with Tissot to gain knowledge and understanding of this artist, and also serve to bring his art to widespread scholarly attention. We are sincerely grateful to the private collectors and the directors and curators of the museums worldwide who have most graciously lent works in their possession. It was a privilege to have Krystyna Matyjaszkiewicz and Michael Regan as commissioners of the exhibition. With their professionalism, unstinting enthusiasm, and effort, they overcame many difficulties to make this exhibition possible. We extend our special thanks to Michael Wentworth, who, with his many years of scholarly research wrote the introduction to the catalogue and also provided essential support. It is with deep appreciation that we acknowledge the patronage Of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, the Agency for Cultural Affairs, the French Embassy in Japan, and the British Council. This exhibition was supervised by Ikegami Chuji. |
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Installation views
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