The Magazine Bijutsu Sekai (World of Art), 1890-1894
Overview
Source: Woodblock Kuchi-e Prints: Reflections of Meiji Culture, Helen Merritt and Nanako Yamada, University of Hawaii Press, 2000
Twenty-five issues of Bijutsu Sekai 美術世界 (World of Art) were published from December 22, 1890 until the final issue on January 2, 1894. The magazine presented fifteen or more works of well-known contemporary and past master artists to the public in woodblock form in each issue. The woodblocks were either reproductions of paintings in reduced-size or original woodblocks. Published by Wada Tokutarō 和田篤太郎 of Shun'yōdō 春陽堂, a Tokyo publishing firm best known for publishing illustrated novels, each issue was edited by the nihonga artist and designer of woodblock prints Watanabe Seitei 渡辺省亭1 (1851-1918), who specialized in kachōga (bird and flower paintings).
Artists' works appearing in the magazine included those of Seitei himself, Kawanabe Kyōsai (1831-1889), Tsukioka Yoshitoshi (1839-1892), Kōno Bairei (1844-1895), Kobayashi Eitaku (1843-1890), Imao Keinen (1845-1923), Shibata Zeshin (1807-1891), Kitagawa Utamaro (1753-1806), Maruyama Ōkyo (1733-1795), Yosa Buson (1716-1784) and Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849). The final issue, volume 25, consisted of works only by Seitei.
Woodblock printing was done by Yoshida Ichimatsu (1866-1924) and the woodblocks were carved by Gotō Tokujirō.
1 also seen written in Japanese as 渡邊省亭
Front Covers and Publishing Dates and Partial Table of Contents for All Twenty-Five Volumes
Sources: Harvard Yenching Library https://iiif.lib.harvard.edu/manifests/view/drs:52409570$1i [accessed 1-13-24]; website of Shin Shosetsu https://shinshosetsu.com/archive_series/e2e413a9605db590 [accessed 1-13-24]