Missing Masterpieces

My Top 3

I recently bought a book called “Missing Masterpieces: Lost Works of Art 1450-1900″. The masterpieces in question are all European works of art, but it made me think about the number of entries I come across in books and catalogues of Japanese prints which refer to the whereabouts of particular designs as being unknown. Every time I see the words “there are written references to [such-and-such design]”, I wonder what happened to the print, is it still in existence, and will I ever have the opportunity to see it. Whilst browsing through Asano & Clark’s catalogue of the British Museum exhibition of Utamaro’s prints which took place in 1995, I came across the entry for the series (Elegant Pastimes of the Four Seasons), published by Tsuruya Kiemon around 1798-9, and read the words “. On this occasion, at least, I can answer two of those three questions… whilst I have no idea where it is now (it was in Holland at one point), I do know that about fifteen years ago it did exist and I did have the opportunity to see it. Unfortunately the black and white image I have of it is a poor one, but that’s better than nothing. The title, “Chrysanthemum Viewing in the Ninth Month”, as we can see from the print itself, is self-explanatory. There are a number of other prints which I’ve come across over the years which are often referred to as being “mentioned in written sources”, and I will try at some point to post the images I have… time permitting.