Louise de Blécourt louise@blecourtdesignmanagement.nl +31 620 199 639
The Magnificent Twelve. Japanese calligraphy and artwork on the theme of the zodiac.
978-90-5997-355-8 The Magnificent Twelve. Japanese calligraphy and artwork on the theme of the zodiac.
978-90-5997-631-9 De Twaalf uit het Oosten. De Aziatische dierenriem in karakters en prenten.
Hardcover, 144 pages with ca. 104 illustrations
Price: € 29,50 (incl. 9% btw)
A limited and signed number of books are here available.
Here you can find me with the book in the near future:
14 to 18 April 2022, KunstRAI ‘Focus Japan’, booth 95 (Oranda Jin) at the Europahal (Hal 1) of the Amsterdam RAI, Europaplein 22, 1078 GZ Amsterdam
Beginning of July 2022, book and exhibition by Oranda Jin at Galery Van Hoof, Vughterweg 60, 5211 CM Den Bosch
The twelve animals of the Zodiac
The twelve animals of the Zodiac feature prominently in countless East-Asian tales and legends, and have always been an important source of inspiration for Chinese, Korean and Japanese artists. Together with the Five Elements (wood, fire, earth, metal, and water), the twelve animal signs constitute the East-Asian horoscope. They form part of a chronological cycle and, like their Western counterparts, determine the personalities of those born under a certain sign.
The Magnificent Twelve offers a highly accessible introduction to the twelve animals, the stories that surround them, and the character traits that are associated with them, as well as information on the role of the signs within traditional systems of reading years and hours. Naturally, the book also enables you to discover your own sign and its characteristics; relational advice is included.
Professor emeritus Willem van Gulik (Leiden University, the Netherlands) wrote the text, the images were conceived and created by the Dutch graphic artist and art dealer Jon de Jong, and Louise de Blécourt (entree 4th dan, Nihon Shodō Bijutsu-in) contributed the calligraphy. The introduction was written by the eminent American art historian Stephen Addiss.
“It is a great pleasure to see how the Netherlands and Japan found each other in this book, which features Dutch artists giving form to the Japanese tradition of cyclical time reckoning. Japan is often seen as a closed culture, but this book demonstrates that everyone who is prepared to take a genuine interest, is most welcome to take part.”
Menno Fitski, Head of Asian Art, Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam
978-90-5997-631-9 De Twaalf uit het Oosten. De Aziatische dierenriem in karakters en prenten.
978-90-5997-355-8 The Magnificent Twelve. Japanese calligraphy and artwork on the theme of the zodiac.
Auteurs:
Willem van Gulik
Stephen Addiss
Louise de Blécourt (calligraphy)
Jon de Jong (graphic art)
With a foreword by Menno Fitski
Hardcover, 144 pages with ca. 104 illustrations, Primavera Pers Leiden
Price: € 29,50 (incl. 9% TAX). Order the book here.
The first books were presented to the ambassadors of Japan and South Korea. Also a book is gifted to the KVVAK (Royal Asian Art Society).
From left to right: Mrs. Nanda Jagusiak, Mrs. Sabine Horinouchi, His Excellency Mr. Hidehisa Horinoushi, Ambassador of Japan, Mrs. Louise de Blécourt, the represented diplomat of the South Korean Embassy, Mr. Junsu Park, Professor Emeritus Willem van Gulik, Mr. Jon de Jong, Mr. Menno Fitski (Head of Asian Art, Rijksmuseum Amsterdam).
Mrs Louise de Blécourt during the launch speech about her part of the book: Asian calligraphy
From left to right Mr. Jon de Jong, Professor Emeritus Willem van Gulik, Mrs. Louise de Blécourt, Mr. Menno Fitski (Head of Asian Art, Rijksmuseum Amsterdam)
Horse by Jon de Jong
The horse character
The metal character
The Magnificent Twelve
The ox character
Rat by Jon de Jong