We take a hiatus from our general “odd thing we stumbled across in the archives’ photos” this week to give you “odd thing we stumbled across in the Shelmidine Room”. While hunting for art for this year’s Christmas card, I found a collection of books titled Manga: the sketchbooks of Hokusai. I know what you’re thinking, and no, it isn’t the contemporary storytelling manga (though that would be cool too).
With the first published in 1814, this series of sketchbooks is filled with drawings of everyday objects, people, and scenery. These are beautifully wood block-printed in black, grey, and a light pink, fleshy tone. The subject material ranges from animals and plants to architecture, landscapes, and even portraits. In all, the collection likely has thousands of sketches, and they’re all absolutely gorgeous. If you’re ever looking to visit the Archives & Special Collections and aren’t certain what you want to do, you could just peruse (gently!) through one of these fifteen volumes.
Open Hours every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. on the second floor of the library.
By Morgan Ford