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Georges Bigot Exhibition

Jul. 11—Aug. 23, 2009

• Jul. 11—Aug. 23, 2009
• Closed Monday (Tuesday if Monday is a national holiday)
• Admission：Adults ￥800（640）／College Students ￥700（560）／High School and Junior High School Students, Over 65 ￥600（480）

Georges Bigot (1860-1927) was a French artist who lived in Japan during the final two decades of the nineteenth century.  He watched Japan’s rapid Westernization with a mixture of curiosity and affection, producing numerous pictures of the scenes he saw and introducing these to the West.
The object of this exhibition is to present an overview of Bigot’s life.  It will feature work spanning his entire career, from the illustrations he produced for newspapers or magazines prior to his departure for Japan, the collections of work he published during his sojourn here, such as ’Asa’, ‘Ohayo’, ‘Mata’, ‘Croquis japonais’, the magazine ‘Tobae’ that published his famous cartoon, ‘Go Fishing’ which appears in Japanese history books to this day as well as the caricatures and Epinal prints he produced upon his return to France.  It will also include the original copper plates used for the ‘Croquis japonais’ prints, that were discovered recently, and several new prints produced from these.
In addition, as befits a museum of photography, it will show early Japanese photographs, dating from the latter half of the nineteenth century, featuring local customs, the eruption of Mt. Bandai, the Sino-Japanese War and various other subjects.  In this way, it will demonstrate both the attraction of Bigot, from the viewpoint of photographic history, and also the Japan that so fascinated him.
Bigot loved the beauty of Japan and strove to introduce it to the world.  We hope that you will enjoy this glimpse of his eventful life and delicate art.  

Main Works in the Exhibition (provisional)

Approximately 300 works by Georges Bigot, including:35 of his representative copperplate prints from such series as ’Asa’ ‘Ohayo’, ‘Mata’, ‘Croquis japonais’, ‘Go Fishing’ from ‘Tobae’, etc., 64 Epinal prints, 21 copperplate prints from ‘Croquis japonais’, and numerous other illustrations and watercolors. 
In addition, there will be approximately 30 works from the Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Photography, including 9 by SHIMOOKA Renjo, 4 by TANAKA Miyoji (Mt. Bandai eruption) and 13 by William K. Burton also of the Mt. Bandai eruption.A provisional total of 330 works will be shown.

 
Georges Bigot, Le premier de l'an au Japon.－Départ d'un fouctionnaire pour sa tournée de visites officielles.
Shimooka Renjō, (Tofu seller with customer),　c.1863-76


Georges Bigot, TOBAE  Une parttie de peche 1887 BLUM-S.I.28 

TANAKA miyoji, Bandaisan, 1888