Frank Frazetta Home Edo-period monster paintings by Sawaki Suushi In the sophisticated popular culture of the Edo period (1603-1868), much attention was devoted to Japan's rich pantheon of traditional monsters and apparitions, known as yokai. Sometimes frightening, sometimes humorous, these compelling Japanese folk creatures were the subject of numerous artistic and literary works. One such work was Hyakkai Zukan, a collection of picture scrolls completed in 1737 by Sawaki Suushi, a relatively unknown artist who studied under master painter Hanabusa Itcho (1702-1772). Hyakkai Zukan's colorful depictions of Japan's most notorious creatures inspired (and were copied by) yokai artists for generations. Ushi-oni [Enlarge] Ushi-oni (lit. Ushi-oni is usually seen in connection with a related monster, called Nure-onna. Nure-onna Nure-onna (lit. Uwan In ancient Aomori prefecture legends, Uwan is a disembodied voice that inhabits old, abandoned temples and homes. Nurarihyon (left), Mehitotsubou (right) Mikoshi-nyudo Another monster monk is Mikoshi-nyudo (a.k.a. Ouni
japanese artist brings ukiyo-e woodblock prints to life through animated gifs aug 18, 2015 japanese artist brings ukiyo-e woodblock prints to life through animated gifs japanese artist brings ukiyo-e woodblock prints to life through animated gifs(above) katsushika hokusai’s ‘yoshida at tokaido’ animated all gifs courtesy of segawa thirty-seven from the 17th through 19th centuries, ukiyo-e woodblock prints and paintings populated the japanese art and cultural movement. artist katsushika hokusai popularized the trend with his series of ’36 views of mount fuji’, depicting scenes of the renowned mountain captured in different seasons and weather conditions, from a variety of different places and perspectives. these compositions were created through a cooperative effort of craftsman, who each adopted traditional techniques to sketch, carve and colorize the works. a spaceship shocks figures in ‘azai hall – 500 rakan temples’ an animated version of ‘tea house at koishikawa. the morning after a snowfall’ wind sweeps away papers in the image ‘ejiri in the suruga province’
World Digital Library Home Edward Hopper Edward Hopper a grandit à Nyach (Etat de New-York). Il s'intéresse à l'Art et commence ses premiers dessins d'après nature très jeune. Il part ensuite pour New-York et suit les cours de Robert Henri à la New-York School of Art. Il y rencontre Rockwell Kent, George Bellows et Pène du Bois. Il rencontre enfin le succès en 1923. Hopper est attentif à l'évolution de la société américaine. Contrairement à beaucoup de ses contemporains, qui se délectait dans la monumentalité de New York, Hopper a su éviter les attractions pittoresques de la ville.
This Summer's Magical Photos of Japan's Annual Flurry of Fireflies in Forests Summer has arrived, which means longer days and warmer evenings to be spent exploring the great outdoors. In Japan, this season is marked by a magical, natural phenomenon as fireflies spread through the forests around the country, lighting up the night sky. Resembling tiny paper lanterns, these little winged beetles communicate with one another through their steady glows, creating a breathtaking view in the process, if you are lucky enough to stumble upon them. These little creatures typically breed for short periods of time and are difficult to detect when light pollution drowns out their brilliance, so photographers around the country have to be quick and savvy in order to capture their displays of bioluminescence. Further, the little bugs are extremely sensitive, reacting to lights and pollution and typically only live about 10 days, making images that portray their mystical glow that much more special. Above image via 365March (Yu Hashimoto) Image via fumial Image via Yasushi Kikuchi
Интернет-галерея живописи - картины, живопись, репродукции • Gallerix.ru The Color That Wasn’t a Color Lorenzo Lotto’s Portrait of a Young Man against a White Curtain, ca. 1508. Of all the colors artists have had at their command throughout the ages, none has endured more reversals of fortune than black. Indeed, in his book Black: The History of a Color, published by Princeton University Press, historian Michel Pastoureau points out that for a few centuries after Isaac Newton’s discovery of the spectrum, around 1665, “black and white were considered and experienced as ‘noncolors.’” Beginning with the earliest known cave paintings, Pastoureau charts the color’s passage through the realms of art, fashion, and society, noting that in ancient times black was associated with caverns and underground spaces, fearful places that nevertheless had their own sacred energy. In Egypt, black assured the safe passage of the deceased to the beyond and thus was the preferred color for divinities linked to death.
Heavy Snowfall Turns Kyoto Into a Beautiful Winter Wonderland With temperatures dipping to below zero degrees Celsius, Kyoto experienced its coldest days yet this past weekend. And while it snows occasionally in Japan’s most beautiful of cities, rarely does it stick. Locals and visitors were in for a spectacular treat this weekend, as the low temperatures allowed for a heavier snowfall that blanketed the city’s world famous monuments. With one of the largest collection of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the world, Kyoto’s magical intrigue was only further enhanced by the white powder. Visitors filled the streets of Gion, Kyoto’s historic geisha quarter, basking in the flakes as they trickled down. The Golden Pavilion, one of the country’s most iconic buildings, shimmers in the snow, its golden exterior popping against the powdery ice crystals blanketing its surroundings. Given the unusual nature of the event, the web is filled with photographs commemorating the occasion. Take a look at some spectacular photographs of Kyoto covered in snow.
Infographic: Mapping The 70-Year Gestation Of Street Art In the annals of "Fine Art History," graffiti is usually placed squarely outside of the mainstream dialogue. Usually, it’s relegated to a foggy category sometimes called Urban Art--or worse, Urban Contemporary. “Those are not terms that came from the graffiti or street communities,” says writer and theorist Daniel Feral. “They may be a result of categories created by the auction houses. Click to enlarge. Feral is the creator of the eponymous Feral Diagram, a map that revises the role of graffiti and street art in the canon of modern art. What’s clever about the Feral Diagram is that it utilizes the visual language of another very famous diagram, created by the first director of MoMA, Alfred H. MoMA director Alfred H. You can buy a poster of the diagram here.
34 Healthy and Eye-Catching Bento Box Lunch Ideas Partitioned dining may remind you of a TV dinner from the 60s, but compartmental lunches can actually be appetizing, healthy, and appealing. All the rage with the K-5 crowd, bento boxes are gaining steam as a perfectly portioned, creative, fun way to pack and serve lunch—and they’re not just for kids. The bento box hails from Japan and first hit the scene in the sixteenth century. Creative Lunches On-the-Go Photo: Veggie Bento Love 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Photo: Cooking in Sens 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. Photo: Bento Zen 29. 30. 31. 32. So you want to take up a career in bento-box making (or just want really pretty lunches). PlanetBox This stainless steel box is definitely one of the priciest out there—but it’s also sleek and adorable. Yumbox The illustrations inside this plastic box are sort of silly, but we like the pre-separated sections. Monbento Here’s a chic option for the grown ups out there. DIY Bento Box