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Elise Wessels – In memoriam


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Flora in Focus: Plant Life in Japanese Prints

Last Chance! Make sure you do not miss our May exhibition “Flora in Focus: Plant Life in Japanese Prints” We are open the last two weekends of May. Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday this May: 12.00 – 17.00 hrs.

This spring Nihon no hanga will highlight twentieth century Japanese prints featuring the world of flowers. In a journey through the four seasons, Flora in Focus will explore over eighty prints that examine the diversity of Japanese plant life in a variety of styles and interpretations. Well known bird and flower print (kachō hanga) artists such as Ohara Koson (1885-1945) and Itō Sōzan (1884-?) are juxtaposed with works of sōsaku hanga makers like Kawanishi Hide (1894-1965) and Maekawa Senpan (1888-1960).

Flora in Focus surveys the seasonal and cultural functions of natural life in Japan represented in modern prints, alongside the visual impact from traditional Japanese painting and botanical illustration. In addition, the ‘language of flowers’, or hanakotoba, reflects the historical appreciation of plants in Japan and offers an insight into these fresh impressions of nature. From plum blossoms (ume) to camellia (tsubaki), Flora in Focus features a diverse selection of woodblock prints from the early twentieth century to contemporary designs.

Postcards

€5 | 6 designs

Don’t forget to grab a set of postcards when you visit us. We have chosen 6 designs from the exhibition:

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events exhibitions new

Echizen Lacquerware + Living Colour

Echizen:  A new era of lacquerware design

9 – 12 December

This month we will show an exclusive presentation of contemporary Japanese lacquerware from Echizen.


The Echizen region in Japan’s Fukui prefecture has been producing quality lacquerware for many hundreds of years. Contrary to the many production centres of Japan that struggle to adopt to modern times, Echizen boasts a thriving community that matches experienced masters with young, creative students who collaborate in future-proofing lacquerware intended for daily use. In addition to adopting new designs and a range of new pastel colours, Echizen seeks to promote lacquerware as a natural and sustainable alternative to the many plastic items that have come to dominate our lives. Starting in 2015, the region collaborated with foreign designers in order to push traditional lacquerware towards the realm of contemporary product design.


Living Colour:
Contemporary Prints by Fukami Gashū

open 9-12 december

With significant changes to our collection this year due to the gift to the Rijksmuseum, we take this opportunity to shift our focus to a vibrant and modern display of woodblock prints. Living Colour will show contemporary works of Fukami Gashū (born 1953), with over seventy prints and preliminary studies produced over the past forty years.

After discovering well known sōsaku hanga artists such as Asano Takeji and Azechi Umetarō, Fukami Gashū started his journey in woodblock printmaking. His distinctive style is formed by the use of bold colours and playful compositions. Drawing inspiration from his immediate surroundings, the prints feature numerous animals, insects and a surprising variety of cats


Lacquerware demonstrations

saturday 10 and sunday 11 december

For the Echizen project a group of Japanese lacquerware experts has travelled to the Netherlands. On Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 December they will continuously give short lacquerware demonstrations.

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events exhibitions new outside NNH

New exhibition

Gift Rijksmuseum | Guided tours (in Dutch) | New merch!

Living Colour: 
Contemporary Prints by Fukami Gashū

from Friday 4 November

With significant changes to our collection this year due to the gift to the Rijksmuseum, we take this opportunity to shift our focus to a vibrant and modern display of woodblock prints. Living Colour will show contemporary works of Fukami Gashū (born 1953), with over seventy prints and preliminary studies produced over the past forty years.

After discovering well known sōsaku hanga artists such as Asano Takeji and Azechi Umetarō, Fukami Gashū started his journey in woodblock printmaking. His distinctive style is formed by the use of bold colours and playful compositions. Drawing inspiration from his immediate surroundings, the prints feature numerous animals, insects and a surprising variety of cats.


Guided tour (in Dutch)

€15 p.p. | FRIDAY 4 + 11 + 18 + 25 NOVEMBER

This november our curator will give a guided tour (in Dutch) of our latest exhibition Living Colour. For more information see:


New merch!

We have some great gifts fo the upcoming holidays. Check them our at our museum this November!

Living Colour postcards
€5 | 7 designs

Seven designs from our latest exhibition are available for purchase as a set.

desk calendar
€8

The size of this desk calendar fits perfectly on any desk (9,5 x 20 cm).

We have also added our open days for the months of May and November in 2023.

birthday calendar
€10

Enjoy our prints all year round with this birthday calender (20 x 20 cm), featuring a selection from our current collection!


Catalogue

€10 | available from Friday 4 November

The Living Colour catalogue contains information about the artist and a chronological overview of all the works featured in the exhibition.


Blackening the eyebrows, 1928

Gift to the Rijksmuseum

LARGEST-EVER GIFT OF JAPANESE PRINTS

Elise Wessels has gifted, through the Für Elise Foundation, a substantial part of her collection to the Rijksmuseum, comprising more than 1,100 Japanese prints. The Nihon no hanga collection is one of the most important collections of 20th century Japanese prints in the world. Thanks to the gifting, the Rijksmuseum will be able to offer for the first time a representative overview of Japanese work on paper from the 17th to the 20th century.

DONATING MY COLLECTION REPRESENTS THE FULFILMENT OF MY WISH TO ENSURE THAT IT REMAINS INTACT AND CAN BE SHARED WITH THE PUBLIC, NOW AND INTO THE FUTURE. GIFTING SUCH A LARGE PROPORTION OF MY COLLECTION TO THE RIJKSMUSEUM MEANS THESE BEAUTIFUL PRINTS WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR EVERYONE TO ADMIRE, FOREVER.

Elise Wessels

More than 60 of the donated prints will be on display in the Rijksmuseum’s Asian Pavilion from 12 October 2022 to 16 April 2023. The selected works trace the origins and development of shin-hanga and sōsaku-hanga, and reflect the diversity of the gifted collection. The exhibition will include a number of Elise Wessels’ personal favourites, including Diving (1932) and Portrait of Hagiwara Sakutarō (1949) by Onchi Kōshirō, and Pencilling Her Eyebrows by Itō Shinsui (1928). The catalogue Japan Modern from 2016 is being reissued to mark the occasion.

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events exhibitions new

Last chance!

Elegance & Excellence:
Modern Women of Shin hanga

27-28-29 MAY

This Friday, Saturday and Sunday is the last open weekend for Elegance & Excellence: Modern Women of Shin hanga. Don’t miss this ‘beautiful’ exhibition!

The subject of women has been linked to Japanese woodblock prints since the 17th century. Bijin (beauties) are a popular theme in 20th century printmaking, and have continuously captivated audiences and collectors worldwide. Elegance & Excellence: Modern Women of Shin hanga, explores the numerous artists in the Nihon no hanga collection that devoted prints to refine the ideal image of Japanese female beauty. This exhibition examines the ‘elegant’ and modern appearance of women in bijin hanga (beauty prints) of the shin hanga (new print) tradition, known for its accomplished and ‘excellent’ technique within Japanese woodblock printmaking.

Over seventy iconic prints will be on display by, among others, Ishii Hakutei, Hashiguchi Goyō, Itō Shinsui, Kitano Tsunetomi, Yamakawa Shūhō, Torii Kotondo, Kobayakawa Kiyoshi, Hirano Hakuhō, Ishikawa Toraji, Taki Shūhō, and Shimura Tatsumi.


Opening hours

27-28-29 MAY

The exhibition Elegance & Excellence: Modern Women of Shin hanga is open to visitors in our museum on the Keizersgracht!

Friday 27 May until Sunday 29 May

12.00 – 17.00 hrs

Admission is free and in order of arrival. We do not take reservations.


Catalogue

available from 6 May

The Elegance & Excellence catalogue contains an introductory essay and all prints featured in the exhibition.

€ 12.50

Note: We can only accept international book orders, which will be processed in June.


Audio tour

free with every catalogue purchase

With every catalogue purchase, you can now listen to our audio tour (in Dutch) for free! Due to increased popularity, we will not be offering a guided tour in the museum. Good news is, visitors during the weekend are able to listen to the tour as well! You will receive a link our audio tour so you can listen to it on your own device.

Please do not forget to bring your earbuds or headphones!


New!

card wallets & posters

We have collaborated again with Bekking & Blitz to create a few new products. We have a new card wallet containing ten different beauties from this exhibition. The double cards are without text, perfect for your personal message.

€ 10.00

After a delay in delivery we our mini art posters (30 x 40 cm) have finally arrived! These fit in a standard frame. We printed a limited number of these, so they’ll go fast!

€ 10.00 each or three for € 25.00

Note: we are unable to ship these items.


Sōsaku hanga in Leiden

on view until 29 May

The exhibition ‘Sōsaku hanga’ with prints from our collection in Japan Museum SieboldHuis will also be on display until Sunday 29 May 2022. With more than 150 works from the sōsaku hanga movement on display, it shows the development of ‘creative prints’ in Japan. For the first time in Europe, an entire exhibition is dedicated to this movement, where the creative autonomy of Japanese print artists was most important.

Categories
events exhibitions new

We’re open in May

Elegance & Excellence:
Modern Women of Shin hanga

from 6 May

The subject of women has been linked to Japanese woodblock prints since the 17th century. Bijin (beauties) are a popular theme in 20th century printmaking, and have continuously captivated audiences and collectors worldwide. Elegance & Excellence: Modern Women of Shin hanga, explores the numerous artists in the Nihon no hanga collection that devoted prints to refine the ideal image of Japanese female beauty. This exhibition examines the ‘elegant’ and modern appearance of women in bijin hanga (beauty prints) of the shin hanga (new print) tradition, known for its accomplished and ‘excellent’ technique within Japanese woodblock printmaking

Over seventy iconic prints will be on display by, among others, Ishii Hakutei, Hashiguchi Goyō, Itō Shinsui, Kitano Tsunetomi, Yamakawa Shūhō, Torii Kotondo, Kobayakawa Kiyoshi, Hirano Hakuhō, Ishikawa Toraji, Taki Shūhō, and Shimura Tatsumi.


Opening hours

weekends in May

From 6 May the exhibition Elegance & Excellence: Modern Women of Shin hanga will be open to visitors in our museum on the Keizersgracht!

Friday 6 May until Sunday 29 May

Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday: 12.00 – 17.00 hrs

Admission is free and in order of arrival. We do not take reservations.


Catalogue

available from 6 May

The Elegance & Excellence catalogue contains an introductory essay and all prints featured in the exhibition.

€ 12.50

Note: We can only accept international book orders, which will be processed in June.


Audio tour

free with every catalogue purchase

With every catalogue purchase, you can now listen to our audio tour (in Dutch) for free! Due to increased popularity, we will not be offering a guided tour in the museum. Good news is, visitors during the weekend are able to listen to the tour as well! You will receive a link our audio tour so you can listen to it on your own device.

Please do not forget to bring your earbuds or headphones!


New!

card wallets & posters

We have collaborated again with Bekking & Blitz to create a few new products. We have a new card wallet containing ten different beauties from this exhibition. The double cards are without text, perfect for your personal message.

€ 10.00

And by popular demand, we will also be selling three different designs as mini art posters (30 x 40 xm). Come to our museum to see which designs we have chosen!

€ 10.00 each

Note: we are unable to ship these items.


About this exhibition

an ode to beauties

This exhibition was inspired by the recent reprint of  ‘Onnae Kindai bijin hanga zenshū – The female image: 20th century prints of Japanese beauties’ originally published in 2002 and revised and released in 2022 in Japan by Abe Publishing as ‘Kindai bijin hangashūPrints of Japanese beauties in the 20th century’. In the original version six prints from our collection were featured. In the 2022 version, sixteen new artists were included. Nine of these new artists were chosen from the holdings of Nihon no hanga: Takehisa Yumeji, Nakazawa Hiromitsu, Ohira Kasen, Taki Shūho, Tachibana Sayume, Shimizu Miezō, Fuse Chōsun, Shimura Tatsumi, and Hirayama Rōkō. In total thirty prints from our collection were used in the revised edition. The original book played an important part in the shaping of our collection. We realised with this renewed publication it was the perfect opportunity to host an ode to the Japanese female figure in our 2022 spring exhibition.


Sōsaku hanga in Leiden

on view until 29 May

The exhibition ‘Sōsaku hanga’ with prints from our collection in Japan Museum SieboldHuis has been extended until 29 May 2022. With more than 150 works from the sōsaku hanga momevement on display, it shows the development of ‘creative prints’ in Japan. For the first time in Europe, an entire exhibition is dedicated to this movement, where the creative autonomy of Japanese print artists was most important.

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events exhibitions new outside NNH

Sōsaku hanga in Leiden

Creative prints in Japan Museum SieboldHuis

View the exhibition online!

The exhibition ‘Sōsaku hanga’ with prints from our collection in Japan Museum SieboldHuis can now be viewed online. With more than 150 works from the sōsaku hanga momevement on display, it shows the development of ‘creative prints’ in Japan. For the first time in Europe, an entire exhibition is dedicated to this movement, where the creative autonomy of Japanese print artists was most important.


Free digital guided tour (in Dutch): Sōsaku hanga – Part I

Tuesday 8 March

Our curator and guest curator of the exhibition, Maureen de Vries, will give a free online guided tour (in Dutch) of ‘Sōsaku hanga’ on Tuesday 8 March. Maureen will talk about the extraordinary prints in the exhibition and the birth of the creative print movement in Japan. Questions can be asked after the tour in the chat. In april a second part of this guided tour will be available.

Activitity: Guided tour: Sōsaku hanga. Creative Prints from Japan – Part 1
By Maureen de Vries
Language: Dutch
Date: Tuesday 8 March 2022, 14.00 – 14.45 hrs
Location: Online
Price: Free


Catalogue ‘Sōsaku hanga’

Available now

For this exhibition, a bilingual (Dutch and English) catalogue on this remarkable art movement was published by Japan Museum SieboldHuis. It includes more than 140 prints from the our collection, and even more prints are on display. The catalogue is now on sale at the museum for only € 29,50 and is available through online booksellers.

Title: Sōsaku hanga
Author : Maureen de Vries
Publisher: Japanmuseum SieboldHuis
ISBN : 9789082711196
Language : Dutch, English
Paperback: 120 pp
Publication date: December 2021
Weight: 450 gr.
Measurements: 215 x 140 x 27 mm
Price: € 29,50


‘Beautiful’ May exhibition

From 6 May: Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday in May

While we will not share the exact title and theme of our upcoming Spring exhibition, we can announce we will be open again in our canal house on the Keizersgracht this May, with a ‘beautiful’ new exhibition!
We will be open from 6 May, on every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, between 12.00-17.00 hrs. More information will follow soon!

Categories
new outside NNH

Happy ‘Hanga’ Holidays

The past year we have welcomed many new visitors to Nihon no hanga. We wish everyone happy holidays and a prosperous 2022!

We hope to see you next year in our museum with again some exciting new exhibitions! Until we can welcome you again, prints from our collection will be on display in both Japan Museum SieboldHuis and the Museum für Ostasiatische Kunst Köln.

Sōsaku hanga in Japan Museum SieboldHuis

Exhibition update ‼️ Unfortunately due to new measurements Japan Museum SieboldHuis is closed until 14 January 2022. We hope ‘Sōsaku hanga’ will reopen for the public soon.

From 17 December 2021 to 13 March 2022 over 140 works of the sōsaku hanga movement will be on display in Japan Museum SieboldHuis (Leiden, the Netherlands) showcasing the creative autonomy of the Japanese print artists. ‘Sōsaku hanga’ is a must see exhibition for lovers of traditional Japanese prints and connoisseurs of modern art.

Traditional Japanese woodblock prints were a product of a collaboration between publisher, wood block carver and printer. After 1900 a new generation of print artists emerged. In their sōsaku hanga (creative prints) movement, freedom, expression of self, and the individual style of the artist play a central role. These prints have remarkable designs, formats and lines that reflect the changing Japanese society in which social and cultural developments are brought to the foreground. However, more traditional Japanese themes such as landscapes and beauties are also a common subject. This catalogue shows in a selection of prints from the Nihon no hanga Collection by what means sōsaku hanga was brought into the realm of modern art, in Japan and abroad.

‘Sōsaku hanga’ presents a chronological overview of the development of the creative print art in 20th century Japan in over 160 works of the most important sōsaku hanga-artists. All works are from Nihon no hanga Collection.

A varied and informative activities programme will be offered. For more information on the exhibition, activities and admission see: www.sieboldhuis.org.

A richly illustrated catalogue by Nihon no hanga’s curator Maureen de Vries will accompany the exhibition. The bilingual (Dutch and English) catalogue on this remarkable art movement includes more than 140 prints from our collection, and even more prints are on display. The catalogue is now on sale at the SieboldHuis for only € 29,50 and will soon be available through online booksellers.

Title: Sōsaku hanga
Author : Maureen de Vries
Publisher: Japanmuseum Sieboldhuis
ISBN : 9789082711196
Language : Dutch, English
Paperback: 120 pp
Publication date: December 2021
Weight: 450 gr.
Measurements: 215 x 140 x 27 mm

Snow Country sold out!

Snow Country: Japanese Winter Landscapes was our most succesful exhibition to date and during our open days the 800 copies of the catalogue completely sold out! We are currently waiting on a reprint, so it will be available again soon. If you ordered a copy, you will receive an e-mail early 2022 about your order.

Due to the popularity of the catalogue and the exhibition, we will ask if people living in Amsterdam can pick-up their copy on a designated pick-up day. You will receive more information on this if you have placed an order.

We hope to open the museum early 2022 to offer those who have missed Snow Country a chance to see it. More on this soon!

Yoshitoshi in Cologne

The exhibition ‘One Hundred Aspects of the Moon: Japanese Woodblock Prints by Tsukioka Yoshitoshi’ is on view until 9 January 2022 in the Museum für Ostasiatische Kunst Köln. The hundred prints by Tsukioka Yoshitoshi (1839-1892) are from our collection and have been loaned to the museum.

Yoshitoshi was the last great woodblock print master of the Ukiyo-e tradition, and 100 Aspects of the Moon is regarded as his greatest achievement. The series brings to life the history and mythology of ancient Japan. In all 100 prints the moon figures prominently. Sometimes clearly visible in the design and sometimes referred to in the beautiful poems in the text cartouche.

Follow us!

All you new hanga-lovers, be sure to follow us on the socials: Instagram and Facebook! We regularly post other prints from our collection.

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Update: CoronaCheck QR code

From 6 November 2021 new precautionary measures to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus will take effect. A visit to Nihon no hanga is only possible upon presenting your CoronaCheck app and a valid ID. Every visitor over the age of 13 has to present the corona entry pass and ID. We follow the guidelines set by the Dutch government, RIVM and the visitor protocol created by the Museumvereniging. For more information see www.rijksoverheid.nl

Following these guidelines we are obligated to ask for a corona entry pass. We will verify this with the QR code in the CoronaCheck-app. At our register we will ask for this QR code and a valid document of identification. Please do not forget to bring your ID. Without a valid QR code and ID we unfortunately cannot grant you access to our museum.

Precautionary measures for museum visits from 6 November 2021

From 6 November 2021 the following new measures will take effect.

  • To visit our museum, a valid corona entry pass (printed or the CoronaCheck app QR code) is required and a valid ID.
  • Keep the necessary documents on you before entering our museum to ensure a smooth entry process.
  • You do not need to wear a facemask in our museum.
  • Stay at home if you have a cold or the flu. If you and your household have not presented any symptoms for 24 hours you are welcome to visit our museum.
  • Please think of others.
  • Please follow any instructions given by our staff.
  • We maintain the right to refuse entry.
  • Do not shake hands. Cough or sneeze in your elbow and use paper tissues.
  • Use the disinfectant gel at our entrance
  • Use contactless payment or pay by card.

If you have any questions concerning your purchased guided tour tickets valid on Friday 12, 19 or 26 November, please do not hesitate to contact us. Refunds are available up to the day before the guided tour and can be submitted directly to Eventbrite.


Vanaf 6 november 2021 zijn de coronamaatregelen aangescherpt. Een bezoek aan Nihon no hanga is alleen mogelijk na controle van de CoronaCheck-app en een geldig identiteitsbewijs. Iedere bezoeker vanaf 13 jaar moet een coronatoegangsbewijs en een identiteitsbewijs tonen voor een bezoek aan het museum en onze rondleidingen. Wij volgen de richtlijnen van de van de Rijksoverheid, het RIVM en het bezoekersprotocol van de Museumvereniging. Zie www.rijksoverheid.nl voor meer informatie.

In navolging van de richtlijnen zijn wij verplicht te vragen om een coronatoegangsbewijs. Dit controleren wij via de CoronaCheck-app. Voor uw museumbezoek wordt aan de kassa gevraagd naar de QR-code in deze app en een identificatiebewijs. Vergeet deze dus niet mee te nemen naar het museum. Zonder geldige QR-code kunnen wij helaas geen toegang verlenen tot het museum.

Voorzorgsmaatregelen museumbezoek vanaf 6 november 2021

Vanaf 6 november 2021 gelden de volgende coronamaatregelen.

  • Voor een bezoek aan het museum is een Coronatoegangsbewijs (uitgeprint of de QR code in de CoronaCheck-app) en een geldig identiteitsbewijs verplicht.
  • Houd uw benodigde documenten bij de hand al voordat u bij ons binnen bent, dit zorgt voor een goede doorstroom van alle bezoekers.
  • U hoeft bij ons binnen geen mondkapje te dragen.
  • Blijf thuis als u verkouden bent of griep heeft. U bent welkom als u en uw huisgenoten ten minste 24 uur klachtenvrij zijn.
  • Houd rekening met elkaar.
  • Volg altijd de aanwijzingen op van het personeel.
  • Wij behouden ons het recht om bezoekers te weigeren.
  • Schud geen handen; hoest en nies in de binnenkant van uw elleboog en gebruik papieren zakdoekjes.
  • Maak gebruik van de desinfecterende gel bij binnenkomst in het museum.
  • Gelieve contactloos of met pin betalen.

Mocht u vragen hebben over uw reeds gekochte kaarten voor een rondleiding op 12, 19 of 26 november, aarzel dan niet om contact met ons op te nemen. U kunt uw ticket via Eventbrite annuleren tot de dag voor de rondleiding.


Categories
events exhibitions new

We are open in November!

Snow Country: Japanese Winter Landscapes

Our latest exhibition will focus on wintery landscape prints of the 20th century. In Japan snow has been a source of inspiration in art and literature for centuries. Poetic scenes of snowy cityscapes and serene winter beauties have been a well-known part of the Japanese woodblock print tradition but were also a beloved theme in modern shin and sōsaku hanga.

However, living with vast amounts of snow in the remote ‘snow country’, or yukiguni, came with certain challenges. Printmakers from these areas have earnestly depicted daily life in this somewhat concealed part of Japan. When snow country became more accessible with the advent of modern transportation links its representation changed. Seeking out snow leisure became a fashionable pastime for urbanites, including prolific writers and prints artists.

The various aspects of snow surrounding the city, countryside, and its people take centre stage in Snow Country: Japanese Winter Landscapes, with over one hundred works from our collection.


Opening times

NOVEMBER 2021

From Friday 5 November until Sunday 28 November

Friday/Saturday/Sunday: 12.00 hrs – 17.00 hrs

Free entrance, ticket only required for guided tour

COVID-GUIDELINES: QR CODE

From Saturday 6 November 2021 a corona entry pass (coronatoegangsbewijs) is required for a museum visit. You need to present a valid QR code upon entry.
Our open days are subject to current covid-guidelines and will be adjusted if necessary. For more information see www.rijksoverheid.nl


Guided tour

We are able to host guided tours again! Every Friday in November there will be two guided tours (in Dutch). As usual, you will need to buy a ticket in advance through Eventbrite.

Fridays: 13.00 hrs and 15.00 hrs

€ 15.00 (pp, incl. catalogue)

Buy tickets via Eventbrite or our Guided tour page.


Catalogue

The Snow Country catalogue contains an introductory essay and all prints featured in the exhibition (B5 format; 96 pages; softcover; glued binding).

€ 12.50

(for sale at our museum from 5 November 2021)


Postcards

We have collaborated with Bekking & Blitz to create a special postcard wallet with prints from Snow Country: Japanese Winter Landscapes. We have selected 10 of our favourite designs and it comes with envelopes. Great for your season’s greetings!

€ 10.00

(only for sale at our museum from 5 November 2021)