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[DRAWING TEXTBOOK] ASAI CHU^, artist : Chu^to^ ENPITSUGA TEHON Dai Isshu^

[DRAWING TEXTBOOK] ASAI CHU^, artist. Chu^to^ ENPITSUGA TEHON Dai Isshu^. To^kyo^, Yoshikawa Ko^bunkan, Meiji 39 [1906]. 2nd printing. Oblong 8vo., wrappers. 18.4 x 26 cm. Containing 10 sheets of sumi-e woodcut reproducing pencil sketches by Asai Chu^ and meant to serve as a guide for secondary students in their drawing classes. The Japanese Education Ministry, the Monbusho^, had commissioned Asai Chu^, one of the foremost artists and educators of the day to create a series of such handbooks for schools. This is the first volume. This brief notice is not the place to expand but it should be noted that this series represents an important milestone in the see-saw cultural battle being waged between artistic traditionalists and "modern" Western-style artists. The fact that the Asai Chu^ strove to familiarize students with the use of the pencil rather than the brush is significant in that context. Asai, himself, actually, though an accomplished Western-style oil painter who had studied in France was also a skilled traditional painter and a top-rank graphic designer, as well. It appears he believed in giving students all the tools, all the media, available for their expression. His textbook series are rightly famous though almost never found, being fragile to begin with and meant to be used by students. This volume is in near fine condition. It should also be noted that Yoshikawa Ko^bunkan was a famous house, capable of great skill in woodblock printing projects., Fine

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