We have previously shared some of the fantastic Japanese woodblock prints that grace our collections. They are both elegant and delicate, as well as inspirational. We don’t need to go far to see how Japanese printmaking inspired the work of one particular American artist who studied the technique and developed a unique style of her own.
Iowa-born artist Bertha Lum created colorful works in a style called Japonisme—a term first coined by French art critic and collector Phillipe Burty in 1872 that is used to describe the influence of Japanese design on Western art and artists. Lum devoured art journals and developed an intense curiosity for the processes. Throughout her thirties, she acquired printmaking tools and skills during trips to Japan where she studied and worked with woodblock artists Igami Bonkotsu and Nishimura Kamakichi. The influence of her further travels in China can also be seen in her work. She is known especially for her ability to blend two worlds, east and west, in her art form.
The image below is enchanting and haunting, as the lanterns appear to almost float through the fog in a procession.
Scenes of birds soaring in the skies demonstrate her range. The below image on the left is less detailed but extremely vibrant and rich with color, while the image on the right displays impeccable precision and skill with Japanese woodcut techniques.
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There is something about the way she inserts color that is so astounding to me, such as below, where the blues and yellows pop in just the right places. The below snowy image so beautifully conveys a trek through a whitened bamboo road, and the viewer can almost feel the chill and hear the crunch of the snow.
Learn More:
- Take in more of Lum’s work in our Prints and Photographs Catalog.
- See what inspired Bertha Lum and view our collection of pre-1915 Japanese fine prints.
- Then look back at a blog post about Japanese fine prints in celebration of cherry blossom season
- Also take a look at an online exhibition “The Floating World of Ukiyo-e: Shadows, Dreams, and Substance,” which showcases the Library’s spectacular holdings of Japanese “Ukiyo-e.”
- Explore other Japonisme artists in our collections like Helen Hyde and Charles Bartlett.
Comments (4)
This is quite amazing!
I’ve seen these beautiful woodcuts, but thought they’re made by a Japanese artist.
Thank you!
“Land of the Bluebird” is amazing, But the birds look like barn swallows. Is there a story behind it that I am missing?
Fascinating,thank you so much for publishing this biography!
I just acquired a Bertha Lum piece that I think may be titled “Promenade of the Marionettes,” from 1927. I’m doing some digging around on her life, work, and technique. If anyone knows anything about this work, please let me know. She is fascinating!