(Left): Katsushika Hokusai (Japanese, 1760–1849), View of Togetsu Bridge at Arashiyama in Yamashiro from the series Remarkable Views of Famous Bridges in Various Provinces (detail), ca. 1834, woodblock print, ink and color on paper, 9 15/16 x 14 ¾ in., purchase: William Rockhill Nelson Trust, 32-143/185; (Right): Rubbing of Ritual Disc with Dragon Motifs (Bi) (detail), China, 19th-early 20th c., hanging scroll, ink on paper, 14 5/16 in (36.35 cm); Bequest of Laurence Sickman, F88-45/110
Experience two fascinating exhibitions at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art before they close this weekend! Immerse yourself in the vibrant world of Hokusai, one of Japan’s most celebrated artists, through Hokusai: Masterpieces from the Spencer Museum of Art, the Richardson-North Collection, and The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. Drawn from renowned local collections, this exhibition showcases Hokusai’s enduring impact on Japanese art. Simultaneously, explore The Art of Ink Rubbings: Impressions of Chinese Culture to learn the history and artistry of this ancient technique through more than 25 stunning rubbings, alongside the original objects that inspired them.
Hokusai: Masterpieces from the Spencer Museum of Art, the Richardson-North Collection, and The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
Closing Saturday, February 1, 2025
Gallery 205
Katsushika Hokusai (1760–1849) is one of the most creative and versatile artists in the history of Japanese art. Drawn from extensive collections in the Kansas City area, this exhibition introduces Hokusai’s enduring paintings and prints in the context of Hokusai’s time.
To learn more, click here.
The Art of Ink Rubbings: Impressions of Chinese Culture
Closing Sunday, February 2, 2025
Gallery G222
As early as 600 C.E., scholars and collectors commissioned ink rubbings to preserve ancient inscriptions carved on stone or bronze. Advances in ink and paper in the 1200s spurred more refined production, and rubbings were soon regarded as works of art in their own right. In the 1800s, artists created many sophisticated rubbings from bronzes, jades, and sculptures to revitalize the appreciation of antique objects.
Due to its simplicity, beauty, and affinity to important historical objects, ink rubbings’ popularity endured despite advances in other reproductive media. In the 1930s, future Nelson-Atkins director Laurence Sickman (1907–1988) amassed an extensive collection of ink rubbings and, with other collectors, introduced Chinese ink rubbings to a global audience.
This exhibition features more than 25 rubbings, as well as some of the original objects, and offers a window into the remarkable practice, variety, and allure of Chinese ink rubbing.
To learn more, click here.