Cubism in Tsuba Art?

[goo]

 

I found this Tsuba while browsing the collection of the British V&A museum the moko is said to have been purchased in 1911.  This date would fall after the introduction of cubism.  Any one see this before what are your thoughts?

https://collections..../item/O465753/tsuba/ 

[ROKUJURO]

Gustavo,

cubism has mainly to do with cubes/squares while these differently decorated spaces on the TSUBA are triangles. It is a more playful way to show the many ways to create a surface structure.

[FlorianB]

It was purchased in 1911, but this means not necessarily it was made at this point.

 

However, the idea is intriguing, cubism combines different views on a motiv and thus plays with different shapes (triangels, too). But what is the motif here?

 

I agree with Jean C. it is at least a collection of pattern maybe to present different possibilities how to decorate a surface.

 

It reminds me to patterns seen on habaki. Perhaps it would be an idea to post it into Bruce’s thread: www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/32583-cat-scratch-habaki/ .

 

Best,

Florian

[Matsunoki]

Looks more like a textile patchwork effect. Doesn’t look cubist to me.

[DirkO]

I've seen a few tsuba like this - supposedly they were a sort of tsuba samples to show what the texture possibilities were. 

 

[Spartancrest]

  On 5/7/2024 at 1:40 PM, DirkO said:

supposedly they were a sort of tsuba samples to show what the texture possibilities were. 

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That is what I have heard before as well - I don't know if we can get any proof of this - not that it really matters as they are a very interesting tour de force in their own right.

[Matsunoki]

…..I still think something like this is a possible inspiration candidate.

If they are intended to illustrate different punched designs why repeat just a few of them?

Dunno

 

[ROKUJURO]

Obviously, patchwork is not a new technique!

[BIG]

Triangle pattern ..

 

https://polinacoutur...on-Japanese-fabrics/

[rkg]

I have one similar to this that I got not too long ago,  but I haven't photographed it yet.  Here is an image from the auction:

 

 

Best,

rkg

(Richard George)

 

[SalaMarcos]

Not directly related, but since 4 years, a reknowed tsuba master in Japan is wornking in a daishô tsuba depicting the Guernika of Picasso. I hope he finsih soon, I saw it 2 years ago and, even when it's not a "traditional" tsuba, is amazing.

[ROKUJURO]

Marcos,

I would like to see a photo! 
What are the dimensions of that TSUBA DAISHO? The original painting measures ca. 3,50 x 7,80 m.....

[SalaMarcos]

I will try ask the tsubakō if he agree to share. What I can say is that's a group of 3 tsuba (sorry not daishō as I said) but 3 on the same size, nadekaku gata 9x8cm if I remember well. 

[Jake6500]

Regardless of whether these Tsuba constitute "cubism" or not, I find the idea rather interesting.

 

Usually when discussing the relationship between Western and Japanese (Edo Period) art the relationship is in the reverse as Van Gogh is known to have been inspired by ukiyo-e art which inspired the wider Japonaiserie movement in Western art circles around the late 1880's and 1890's. You can see this in the vibrant colours of Van Gogh's Sunflower series.

 

I would say the idea of Picasso's cubism potentially influencing later Meiji Period Tsuba is extremely interesting, regardless of the validity.

[Matsunoki]

Cubism didn’t kick off until around 1910 +- a year or two. 
I doubt it could have spread to and influenced any of the Japanese arts that quickly especially the rather traditional tsuba schools and makers.  Personally I’ve never seen such influence.

The main European artistic shift that found its way into Japan was Art Deco although the more “realistic” Western painting perspectives did creep in a bit earlier.

 

[Jake6500]

I'm inclined to agree Colin, although I do find the thought of it interesting in and of itself.