Guerre

Japan today: a portfolio of sketches Tokyo-Yokohama area 1945-1946. Prepared under the direction of the Engineer Eighth U.S. Army. Original paintings by staff. . . .

1946 · 57171 — Tokyo Japan: Eighth U.S. Army Printing Plant Boonjudo Printing Works 1946. Oblong folio. 15 x 10.75 in. 21 leaves unnumbered. with colour-illustrated title colour-illustrated preface and 24 illustrations several in colour tipped-in on 18 leaves all retaining tissue guards a couple w/ tears 1 w/ minor loss to tissue guard. Original blue boards white & black lettering on front cover punch-sewn in Japanese style at gutter margin w/ white silk braid minor scuffing edgewear very minor staining to lower front cover still VG- copy. First edition of this well-executed series of brush & ink paintings watercolours wash drawings and ink sketches of occupied Japan following World War II by American G.I. artists. While opening with a decidedly jingoistic preface no longer the slant-eyed many-headed yellow monster. . . bespectcacled buck-toothed enigma. . . the sketches reveal a quiet sympathy and influence of Japanese art techniques. The artists included Hoffmaster was a longtime commercial artist and illustrator for US News & World Report National Geographic and art instructor at the Corcoran School of Art who often contributed covers and illustrations to the Changing Times; MacKenzie 1924-2018 noted American craft potter who was heavily influenced by the aesthetic of Shoji Hamada and Korean ceramics often referred to as the “Mingei-sota style;†and Wolsky 1916-1981 noted commercial artist who later became noted illustrator with Woman’s Home Companion Collier’s McCall’s Redbook Esquire Time and Life and noted collector of Modernist art. Eighth U.S. Army Printing Plant, [Boonjudo Printing Works], hardcover