Art Forgotten · Huang Goodman

Art from public museum collections. A mismatched real Japanese law, and some other factoids.

Every object, image and description comes from the museum's own catalogue record, and every object links to its original. Japanese records are machine-translated into English; the museum's Japanese is kept beside the translation because it is the authoritative form. Each law carries its official number and links to e-Gov 法令検索, the Japanese government's statute database.

{帝鑑図屏風 · 狩野山楽筆 · 江戸時代・17世紀 / Edo period, 17th century · Japan Search · 国立国会図書館}

Imperial Scroll Screen Painting This catalog introduces the "Empire Image Scroll Screen," a significant work of art in Japanese culture. The painting is a scroll screen, a unique form of art where multiple panels are connected to form a larger image. The screens were often used as room dividers or as decorative elements in traditional Japanese interiors. The painting on the scroll screen is called "Emperor's Inspection," a scene depicting the imperial procession. The scene is set in an open courtyard where various dignitaries, officials, and courtiers gather to pay their respects to the emperor. The emperor, dressed in full regalia, is seated on a raised platform, surrounded by his entourage. The painting is executed in the traditional Japanese style, with intricate brushwork and vibrant colors. The artists have masterfully captured the grandeur and elegance of the imperial court, as well as the subtle nuances of the human emotions expressed by the various characters in the scene. The scroll screen is an impressive example of the high art of Japanese painting, reflecting the rich cultural heritage and the refined aesthetic sensibilities of its creators. It is a precious and valuable artifact that continues to captivate and inspire viewers with its intricate details and beautiful composition.

Collection of stories about Chinese emperors acting as role models or opposite teachers. On the right side, there are six images of good deeds, and on the left side, there are six images of foolish actions. The traditional Chinese painting technique of "kamigata" is used to clarify the structure of the buildings through regulated line drawing, and to depict the figures as the main subjects using line drawing. This important work served as the starting point for the research of Yanagida Kunio. (161101_h082)

為政者が手本あるいは反面教師とすべき中国の諸帝王の故事集。右隻は善行６図、左隻は愚行６図。伝統的な中国絵画の「界画」の手法により、定規を用いた線描で楼閣の構造を明解に描き、人物を線描主体で活写している。山楽研究の出発点となった重要作品だ。（161101_h082）

View the original at Japan Search →

The law

文化財の不法な輸出入等の規制等に関する法律

Act on Controls on the Illicit Export and Import of Cultural Property

平成十四年法律第八十一号 · Act No. 81 of 2002

Japan implementing the 1970 UNESCO Convention. When a foreign state reports that cultural property has been stolen from an institution, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs notifies the education ministry, which designates the object as specified foreign cultural property, after consulting the trade ministry. Importing a designated object then requires approval under the foreign exchange and trade law.

The cool part. Article 6 quietly rewrites private law. Under the Civil Code a good-faith purchaser is normally secure against a recovery claim after two years. For designated stolen foreign cultural property, the victim may demand recovery from two years after the theft until ten years have passed. Buying in good faith does not settle the question for a decade, which is roughly how long it takes a stolen object to surface on a legitimate market.

Verify at e-Gov 法令検索 →

Use it A motif small enough to blind-deboss, which is where restraint actually shows.

Description source: museum curator text, translated — not generated