Printed to Perfection

Robert O. Muller can be considered the most important collector in the world of 20th century Japanese prints. He amassed over 4500 designs, tracing back the artistic developments of the past century to the Meiji period. His holdings, now in the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery of Art in Washington D.C., include the finest possible examples of artists specialized in the portrayal of female beauty such as Hashiguchi Goyo (1880-1921), Ito Shinsui (1898-1972) and Torii Kotondo (1900-1976), the earliest and best works of the two major landscape artists Kawasui Hasui (1883-1957) and Hiroshi Yoshida (1876-1950) as well as numerous works by other, less famous artists providing a comprehensive and fascinating overview of the Shin hanga ('New Print') movement. His exquisite taste and critical attitude has resulted in a collection in the finest condition imaginable. The Arthur M. Sackler Gallery of Art stages the first major exhibition from this collection in the months of November and December of 2004. This catalogue accompanies the first exhibition from the donation by Robert O. Muller to the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery of Art of over 4000 prints. With short artist biographies, glossary and index.