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Man with black hair at right facing a group of birds with a small pine tree between them

Fuku Akino, illustration for pages 26 and 27 from "The Dwarf Pine Tree," 1965. © SAFA

Dates

March 06- July 31, 2024

Location

Zimmerli Art Museum

71 Hamilton Street New Brunswick, NJ, 08901

Information

Admission at the Zimmerli is FREE to everyone. Tickets are not required for exhibitions

Modern Art for an Old Tale: Fuku Akino's Illustrations for "The Dwarf Pine Tree"

This exhibition presents more than 20 illustrations for the The Dwarf Pine Tree by Fuku Akino (Japanese, 1908-2001), a Kyoto-based painter and teacher who was one of Japan’s most prominent woman artists during her lifetime. Published in 1963, The Dwarf Pine Tree is a modern retelling of a Japanese folk tale whose main character is a pine tree, an important symbol in Japanese culture representing love and endurance. The book is one of several collaborations between Akino, the author Betty Jean Lifton, and the editor Jean Karl, who became the head of a new division for children's literature at Atheneum publishers (now a division of Simon and Schuster) in 1961. From the beginning of her 25 years at Atheneum, Karl promoted her vision to publish complex and culturally diverse stories for young American readers such as those written by Lifton, an American resident of Japan, and illustrated by Akino.  

Organized by Christine Giviskos, Curator of Prints and European Art

Exhibition Preview

This exhibition presents more than 20 illustrations for the The Dwarf Pine Tree by Fuku Akino (Japanese, 1908-2001), a Kyoto-based painter and teacher who was one of Japan’s most prominent woman artists during her lifetime.

 

Fuku Akino, Illustration for pages 34 and 35 from The Dwarf Pine Tree, 1965, watercolor on paper. Gift of Antheum Publishers. © SAFA

Fuku Akino, Illustration for pages 26 and 27 from The Dwarf Pine Tree, 1965, watercolor and ink on paper. Gift of Antheum Publishers. © SAFA 

Fuku Akino, The Emperor's men were surprised..., page 31 from The Dwarf Pine Tree, 1965, watercolor and pen and ink on paper. Gift of Antheum Publishers. © SAFA

 

Fuku Akino, trial illustration for page 8 from The Dwarf Pine Tree, 1965, watercolor on paper. Gift of Antheum Publishers. © SAFA

 

Fuku Akino, "Foolish pine!" scolded the other trees angrily..., page 15 from The Dwarf Pine Tree, 1965, watercolor and wash on paper. Gift of Antheum Publishers. © SAFA