DOC Prehistoric Future: Max Ernst and the Return of Painting between the Wars by Ralph Ubl in Arts-Photography

Description

In this penetrating analysis of a little-explored area of Japanese cultural history; Timon Screech reassesses the career of the chief minister Matsudaira Sadanobu; who played a key role in defining what we think of as Japanese culture today. Aware of how visual representations could support or undermine regimes; Sadanobu promoted painting to advance his own political aims and improve the shogunates image. As an antidote to the hedonistic ukiyo-e; or floating world; tradition; which he opposed; Sadanobu supported attempts to construct a new approach to painting modern life. At the same time; he sought to revive historical and literary painting; favouring such artists as the flamboyant; innovative Maruyama Okyo. After the city of Kyoto was destroyed by fire in 1788; its reconstruction provided the stage for the renewal of Japans iconography of power; the consummation of the shoguns painted culture.