{"title":"Matthi Forrer","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMatthi Forrer\u003c\/strong\u003e offers a captivating exploration of Japanese culture through both visual and historical lenses. His works, such as \u003cem\u003eKakemono\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eNIPPON\u003c\/em\u003e, delve into traditional arts and the rich tapestry of Japan’s heritage, inviting readers to appreciate the subtle beauty of its customs and craftsmanship.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eBlending artistic insight with historical context, Forrer’s books appeal to enthusiasts of \u003cem\u003eArts \u0026amp; Culture\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eHistory \u0026amp; Military\u003c\/em\u003e, providing a thoughtful reflection on Japan’s past and its enduring influence in the world. His distinctive approach balances scholarly detail with accessible storytelling.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"kakemono-by-matthi-forrer-9788857243795","title":"Kakemono","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA comprehensive survey of the art of the kakemono, classic Japanese paintings on vertical scrolls.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eOnce displayed for the tea ceremony and in the alcove (tokonoma) of traditional houses, the \u003cem\u003ekakemono\u003c\/em\u003e or \u003cem\u003ekakejiku\u003c\/em\u003e is a 'painted hanging scroll,' which, in the variety of its themes, describes changing beauty and the flow of time. Subjects are in fact selected to satisfy the taste of the visitors, and harmony with seasons and events. As with Japanese writing, it should be read from right to left.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eVerisimilitude being of subordinate importance, what really matters is to convey 'the power of the brush.' As long as the spirit and the essence of the image can be appreciated, any painting can be enjoyed as a journey into the artist's mind.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eEdited by Matthi Forrer and realised in collaboration with the Fondazione culture e musei of Lugano and the Fondazione Torino Musei, the book presents a selection of 120 \u003cem\u003ekakemono\u003c\/em\u003e from the important private Perino collection, offering a unique opportunity to discover Japanese painting between the 16th and 19th centuries. Most of the subjects are drawn from nature (flowers, birds, and fish), painted realistically in extraordinarily precise detail. They include works of rare beauty by artists such as Maruyama Okyo (1733-1795), who worked in the imperial court and founded Maruyama-Shijo, one of the most prestigious naturalist schools of the period, Kishi Ganku (1749\/56-1838\/39), famous for his paintings of tigers, and Kusumi Morikage (1620-1690), painter of the Edo period whose works reflect his sympathy for farmers and the poor.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Thames and Hudson (Australia) Pty Ltd","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47383883841772,"sku":"9788857243795","price":72.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/17033563485341.jpg?v=1773386054"},{"product_id":"nippon-by-matthi-forrer-9789059961531","title":"NIPPON","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eNippon\u003c\/em\u003e includes all the original prints from the original book by Siebold, with a commentary on the most compelling images. A centuries-old masterpiece about Japan.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eJapan was isolated almost completely from the West for more than two hundred years, from 1641 to 1854. One of the first Westerners to penetrate that barrier and reveal fundamental information about the country and the Far East in general was Philipp Franz von Siebold (1796-1866), a doctor from Wurzburg in Germany. He spent the period 1823 to 1829 on the small island of Dejima, a Dutch trading post in Nagasaki that was then the only point of contact between Japan and the West. Full of ambition, Siebold was sent from the Dutch East Indies to Japan with the task of gathering as much information as possible about the country, its geography, its people, religion, customs and traditional costumes. The ultimate aim was to use this information to boost Dutch trade.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWorking with Japanese artists including Kawahara Keiga and Hokusai, Siebold embarked on an unprecedented visual and scientific project, culminating in the book \u003cem\u003eNippon\u003c\/em\u003e. In this publication of \u003cem\u003eNippon\u003c\/em\u003e, we give Siebold's work a new lease of life that lets us understand the Japan he saw. This edition includes all the original prints, with a commentary on the most compelling images. The introduction discusses the unique relationship between Japan and the Netherlands, Siebold's life, his work on Dejima and the historical significance of \u003cem\u003eNippon\u003c\/em\u003e. The thematic essays and image keys point out striking details and interesting stories, all with a view to achieving once again what Siebold sought to do all those years ago: let readers marvel at the incredible beauty of Japan.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAuthors:\u003c\/strong\u003e This publication is the result of a collaboration with Leiden University Libraries. The editors are Kuniko Forrer and Matthi Forrer. Kuniko is a book historian and an authority on the Dutch language who has worked at Japan Museum Siebold Huis since 2012. She has a doctorate in Dutch literature and book studies. Matthi is an art historian and authority on Japan, and the first person appointed to the Siebold professorship at Leiden University. He is currently a senior researcher on the Japanese and Korean collection at Leiden's Wereldmuseum. The editors share their love for Japan, and Siebold's \u003cem\u003eNippon\u003c\/em\u003e in particular, from the perspectives of their distinct specialist fields.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSelling Points:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n    \u003cli\u003eThis centuries-old masterpiece offers a unique glimpse of a country that continues to intrigue people even today.\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003cli\u003eThe fine illustrations by Japanese artists give a wealth of information about ancient rituals, scenery, the art of war, court culture and much more.\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003cli\u003eSiebold introduced Western medicine to Japan and his daughter Kusumoto Ine was the first Japanese woman to train as a doctor.\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003cli\u003eForeword by bestselling author Annejet van der Zijl, whose double biography of Siebold and his Japanese daughter Kusumoto Ine will be published in September 2025.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e180 colour illustrations\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Unknown","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47643573158124,"sku":"9789059961531","price":235.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/b028d3b2351e8b38f94803f0cebbcfe1.jpg?v=1779225863"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.co.nz\/collections\/matthi-forrer.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}