Hasegawa Takejiro (Tokyo, 1853 - 1938)
Battle of the Monkey and the Crab [Saru Kani Kassen], 1885
Printed ink and color on paper, 18 x 12 cm (7 1/16 x 4 3/4 in.)
Long Gallery
Commentary
The Japanese Fairy Tales book series was first published in Tokyo by the Kobunsha press in the mid-1880s. Kobunsha’s founder, Takejiro Hasegawa (1853-1938), originally created these English translations of Japanese folk stories as schoolbooks for Japanese students. After realizing that they would also be popular with a Western audience, Hasegawa redesigned them as souvenirs for tourists.
Isabella Stewart Gardner was fascinated by Japanese culture and toured the country with her husband in 1883. She created a Japanese garden for her Brookline residence, and acquired Japanese art for her museum. Gardner purchased seventeen Hasegawa books, taking care to acquire first editions published for Japanese readers when possible.
Isabella Stewart Gardner was fascinated by Japanese culture and toured the country with her husband in 1883. She created a Japanese garden for her Brookline residence, and acquired Japanese art for her museum. Gardner purchased seventeen Hasegawa books, taking care to acquire first editions published for Japanese readers when possible.