New DePauw exhibition offers look at 'Genji's World' in Japanese woodblock

Courtesy Photo A comprehensive look at the woodblock prints influenced by this epic tale, offering the rare opportunity of seeing works from the personal collection of Paulette and Jack Lantz, considered one of the foremost collections of Genji prints in existence.

Since its 11th-century composition, "The Tale of Genji" has inspired everything from paintings, to kabuki plays, to anime.

Now, the Richard E. Peeler Art Center at DePauw University presents a comprehensive look at the woodblock prints influenced by the epic tale.

Viewers will have the rare opportunity of seeing works from the personal collection of Paulette and Jack Lantz, which is considered the foremost collection of Genji prints.

The exhibition "Genji's World in Japanese Woodblock Prints" opens on Thursday, Jan. 31, and remains on view through April 21. It is free and open to the public.

All are also invited to a lecture by Bruce Coats, the exhibition's curator, scheduled for Tuesday, March 19, at the Peeler Art Center.

"Genji's World" will feature a rich array of woodblock prints by many of Japan's leading artists, drawn from both the Scripps College collection and the personal collection of Jack and Paulette Lantz.

Highlights include Utagawa Kunisada's illustrations for the popular serial novel, "A Rustic Genji" by a Fraudulent Murasaki, and Tsukioka Kogyo's prints of Genji-inspired Noh plays.

The exhibition is accompanied by an elaborately illustrated book, edited by Andreas Marks and published by Hotei Publishing.

The exhibition is organized by Dr. Bruce Coats, professor of art history and humanities at Scripps College, in conjunction with two classes on Japanese arts.

The book is funded in part by the Blakemore Foundation, the E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Foundation, Union Bank, and the Aoki Endowment for Japanese Arts and Cultures.

After DePauw, the exhibition will travel to the Clark Center for Japanese Art and Culture, Vassar College and the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens.

The Richard E. Peeler Art Center galleries are open Monday-Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Saturday 11 a.m.-5 p.m.; and Sunday 1-5 p.m. and are closed during university breaks and holidays.