Japanese poster collection, 1915-1929

View only results with digital items
Printable guide [HTML]
Request items

Summary

Creators:
Asai Shiten (Tokyo, Japan), Dainihon Seito Kabushiki Gaisha, Gōshi Kaisha Chidoriya Shōten (Tokyo, Japan), Ichida Ofusetto Insatsu Kabushiki Kaisha (Ichida Offset Printing Co., Ltd.) (Osaka, Tokyo, and Shanghai), Kabushiki Kaisha Tōkyō Tsukiji Kappan Seizōsho (Tokyo, Japan), Machida, Ryūyō, 1871-1955, Mayama, Kōji, 1882-1981, Mitsuma Insatsu Gōmei Kaisha (Tokyo, Japan), Mitsuma Insatsujo (Mitsuma Printing Works) (Tokyo, Japan), Mitsumura Printing Co., Ltd. (Kobe, Japan), Nagahara, Kotaro, 1864-1930, Nakayama Taiyodo, Nippon Shuzō Kabushiki Kaisha (Yonezawa, Japan), Okano, Sakae, 1880-1942, Sugiura, Hisui, 1876-1965, Sugiyama, Sueo, Tada, Hokuu, 1889-1948, and Tōkyō Inshokan
Abstract:
The Japanese poster collection contains approximately 45 posters on the following topics: Japanese products and design; railways, ocean liners and tourism; Japanese art and design exhibitions; Japanese imperial modernity (including colonies in Korea, Manchuria, and northeastern China); and Japanese Ministry and Telecommunications campaigns. The posters reflect both Japanese painting techniques (nihonga) and Western painting techniques (yōga). Pictorial styles range from neo-traditionalism derived from woodblock prints (ukiyoe) to modernism. The prominence of beautiful women (bijin) as an aesthetic category in the collection is of note. Most of the posters were produced using the offset lithographic printing technique. The posters were created by prominent designers, commissioned by large Japanese corporations and government ministries, and produced by Japan's major offset printing companies.
Extent:
0.21 Linear Feet Approximately 49 posters stored in 41 oversize folders in 3 map case drawers.
Language:
Japanese English
Preferred citation:

[Box/folder no. or item name], Japanese poster collection, Collection no. 3020, East Asian Library, USC Libraries, University of Southern California

Background

Scope and content:

The Japanese poster collection contains approximately 45 posters on the following topics: Japanese products and design; railways, ocean liners and tourism; Japanese art and design exhibitions; Japanese imperial modernity (including colonies in Korea, Manchuria, and northeastern China); and Japanese Ministry and Telecommunications campaigns. The posters reflect both Japanese painting techniques (nihonga) and Western painting techniques (yōga). Pictorial styles range from neo-traditionalism derived from woodblock prints (ukiyoe) to modernism. The prominence of beautiful women (bijin) as an aesthetic category in the collection is of note. Most of the posters were produced using the offset lithographic printing technique. The posters were created by prominent designers, commissioned by large Japanese corporations and government ministries, and produced by Japan's major offset printing companies.

Custodial history:

The provenance of the USC Libraries Japanese poster collection is largely unknown, as is the date of acquisition. The posters were part of a larger artificial collection assembled at the USC Von Kleinsmid Center before they were transferred to the USC Libraries.

Processing information:

The posters in this collection were previously described as part of a larger collection titled the "Asian poster collection" and included description for approximately 43 Chinese posters and 12 Chinese calendars. The Chinese posters and calendars were separated and described in a separate finding aid.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

Portion of items in the collection are too fragile to be handled. Those fragile Items with restricted access are noted at item level. Patrons are recommended to view the Scalar project "Unpinning History" or view the collection in the Digital Library.

Terms of access:

Permission for publication is given on behalf of the East Asian Library as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.

Preferred citation:

[Box/folder no. or item name], Japanese poster collection, Collection no. 3020, East Asian Library, USC Libraries, University of Southern California

Location of this collection:
East Asian Library
Doheny Memorial Library, 1st floor
Los Angeles, CA 90089-1825, US
Contact:
(213) 740-1772
Website