The Great Wave: Japan and the Culture of Printmaking — Hans Bjarne Thomsen

On 24 September, Les Bernardes will host a lecture by Hans Bjarne Thomsen, a specialist in Japanese art history and Professor Emeritus at the University of Zurich.

Born in Kyoto and holding a PhD in Japanese Art History and Archaeology from Princeton University, Thomsen has devoted much of his career to the study of Japanese art and the history of art collecting. In 2019, he was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun by the Emperor of Japan for his work promoting cultural ties between Switzerland and Japan.

In his lecture, The Great Wave: Japan and the Culture of Printmaking, he will explore the Western fascination with Japanese woodblock prints, from the large-scale arrival of prints in Europe from the second half of the nineteenth century to the formation of major collections. He will also examine the culture of appreciation, collecting, and printmaking techniques associated with this artistic legacy.

The lecture will be delivered in English with simultaneous interpretation.

24 September · 7:30 pm
Les Bernardes, Salt
Free admission