Mid the July 4th weekend, I assumed the Brooklyn Museum would be sparsely attended. Nope. Two blockbusters shows brought in crowds—Paul McCartney’s photos and Hiroshige’s woodblock prints of Edo (Tokyo).
The museum’s collection of Hiroshige’s woodblock prints is purported to be among the world’s finest. The colors are vibrant, preserved after decades in storage. The subject matter is his hometown in the mid-1800s.
Think about your hometown. What would you show that would depict daily life throughout the year, including events, nature, and architecture? Hiroshige manages in 100 views to give a great portrayal of Tokyo.
Adjacent to the original woodblock prints, are artist Takashi Murakami paintings of Hiroshige’s 100 views. Together this is a fabulous show.