Conserving a Japanese hanging scroll painting | A courtesan by Kitagawa Utamaro

The conservation and re-mounting of Kitagawa Utamaro’s hanging scroll, “Standing Courtesan Reading a Letter” and its silk mount (BM 2014,3048.1), was completed at the British Museum Hirayama studio in November 2016 thanks to generous support from the Sumitomo Foundation.
The treatment was part of the Collaborative Project for Conservation of Japanese Paintings in the British Museum collection together with the Association for Conservation of National Treasures.
Scroll mounter Keisuke Sugiyama first masterminded the project with curator Tim Clark and Iwataro-Yasuhiro Oka, director of ACNT, in discussions with textile conservators Monique Pullan and Anna Harrison. Kyoko Kusunoki took over the lead of the project from Keisuke Sugiyama after the painting had been consolidated, disassembled and washed.
The ACNT conservators involved were: Makoto Kajitani, Masanobu Yamazaki, Atsushi Mikkaichi, Aya One, Aya Matoba and Jun Imada. Other BM conservators and students involved were Eveliina Holopainen, Marie Karadgew, MeeJung Kim-Marandet, Joanna Kosek and Carol Weiss.
#conservation #worldhistorylab #japaneseart

[@natheniel]

i absolutely love how they continued the tradition of writing down the names of the craftsmen and craftswomen's names on the wood

[@nadsonandrade7117]

Cekl co

[@nadsonandrade7117]

Xcekicu

[@nadsonandrade7117]

Pohi9

[@davidmartin1793]

Life is enriched by talented people.

[@jonas1015119]

paper conservation is pure magic, especially for these kind of painting.

[@Michael-Madrid]

Something soothing about watching craftspeople plying their trade.

[@nejiniisan1265]

It is so pleasing to see such a wonderful conservation/restoration job being done

[@exploringlife738]

@JONATHAN SUTCLIFFE There's always plenty more room for national living treasures ... the more, quite frankly, the better for the world.

[@GiselleMetcalf-Grosso]

The combined expertise and skill that it took to conserve this work of art was astounding. Seeing this in person is now added to my bucket list!

[@lisascenic]

I have so much respect for the researchers and conservators who do this painstaking work.

[@Codetutor-DemystifyCoding]

I recently visited London and one of the must visit places for me was this mesuem. It's free of cost, no admission fees for people of any nationality. If you feel like it, you can do a donation, but no one insists. I am in awe of the skill of these people who are trying to conserve these historical artifacts. I am really falling in love with this channel.

[@Whoiskevinjones]

Nothing is "free." The British people pay for it through taxes.

[@ebony1442]

I love this KZbin channel. My only regret is that, as a U.S. resident, I cannot easily come and visit the British Museum to see all the lovely exhibits that are shown here in person.

[@RelaxRelapse720]

While I hope you do get to visit The British Museum some day, living in the United States is incredible if you enjoy museums! There are several throughout the country the consistently rank as some of the best in the world.

[@Luckingsworth]

Plenty of US Museums that match the British museum in terms of dedication to art.

[@christianfrommuslim]

You could also subscribe to USA Museum channels, as I do. For example: The Metropolitan Museum, the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, the Isabella Gardener Museum, The Fine Arts Museum of San Francisco, and others. Blessings and life to you!

[@wodnyrak]

Whenever a restoration is done, the conservator works so as not to leave a trace of his presence other than the improvement in the condition of the artwork. I usually support the idea, but I am pleasantly surprised to see it subverted with the inscription on the bottom rod. Recognition where it’s due!

[@nikyazikov6853]

I think in this case the crossover with the japanese culture of restoration which contributes to the piece is fascinating - and I think it's great that this way conservators get their credit for their work on a piece; they have done an incredible job, and so I feel that we can learn something from the Japanese here

[@Whoiskevinjones]

I disagree. I presume attaching your name is contrary to the ethics of conservation principles.

[@stinew358]

I really appreciate the acknowledgment of the different tradition of conservation in Japan and honoring that tradition with a little bit of renewal. What a gorgeous work and such gorgeous restoration too

[@MrTorleon]

I found myself holding my breath through the various delicate and difficult stages - the sheer level of skill and attention to detail were breathtaking - thank you for this superb upload :)

[@griseldis]

Thank you for preserving this beautiful treasure for the future!

[@jasoncook9817]

The restoration process is as fascinating as the painting is beautiful.

[@kittenclaws5775]

I'm so happy to see both modern conservatory efforts and culturally appropriate tradition being combined to preserve these pieces beyond just physically but also in the spirit of their creation

[@jamesaritchie1]

I often find myself admiring the talent and skill of the restoration people as much as the talent and skill of the original artist.

[@Salsmachev]

These conservation videos are the entire reason why I subscribed to this channel.

[@raelabuschagne9934]

The respect and skill of the talented restorers is wondrous.

[@daphnejohnson9592]

It's like magic seeing how it was restored!

[@adriennefriederich8061]

Breathtaking. Such attention to detail.

[@ImmortalInflames]

I really love watching experts restore items from pots to paintings. There is just no way to comprehend how much work is involved to restore a single item unless you try to restore anything yourself. Until 2020 came along I was spending a lot of my free time restoring an old car, knowing a bit sure, but learning all I can off my father - learning how to set the timing for the spark in the distributor cap was so alien to me. I'm used to looking at a computer screen for diagnosis - but I must say I prefer the old way. It's very hands one, the car talks to you in it's own way, sputters, pings, smokey, stalls, rough idles all these things give clear signals to what's going on and in these old cars - there isn't a lot going under the bonnet so you can really get in there and adjust a few things (eg throttle body) and it's a world of difference. Rather than simply ordering a new part on a modern car. Though the back end & fuel tank are still out and there is still a ways way to go, I'm genuinely eager to make baby steps of progress. I would never compare myself to these artisans, my only point is on some tiny level I understand how much work is involved and you can't rush! I Really hope to find more restorations in this channel!

[@lindakile1229]

That is so beautiful. My thanks to all who worked on conserving it. Magnificent work.

[@recon441]

Amazing to see so many different disciplines coming together to restore this beautiful piece of art!

[@chriscraven9572]

Stunning piece of work both by the artist and the conservators.

[@ThePbird1]

We owe a debt to the museum for preserving and studying humanity’s heritage

[@maxwlytle]

How wonderful that the beautiful masterpiece was able to be restored ... very impressed with the whole process of restoration and the care taken by the conservators. Beauty and fine works need to be preserved as reminders.

[@rosejuliette9180]

I have seen this painting so many times and every time I smile. I feel such a strong connection to the past with this.

[@chtitmog]

What an incredible amount of work - this is so worth the effort and dedication though! The result is truly impressive and the painting is stunning. Wow!

[@jordanreffett7561]

blown away by the skill of the restorers.

[@ingeborg-anne]

Fantastic! Thank you so much for sharing your work, British Museum ❤️

[@terrywbreedlove]

So good to see all these old work of Arts being saved. I have watched a few being taken care of at MOMA as well. Thank you all

[@weRarmy_weRBL]

Amazing... not just we get to continue enjoying this beautiful picture but to see what it takes to keep it that way was extremely interesting and it shows the hard work of the museum behind the scenes. Thank you all and hoping to re-visit sometime soon.

[@hjordistorfa]

Magnificent Mastery Artwork & Restored back to it's Glory by highly skilled people.. I'm truly impressed and greatful for having been able to watch this.. Thank you kindly 💕🍃🌹🍃💕✌😊💕

[@piratessalyx7871]

Wow she is beautiful! So glad she has been preserved. It was so interesting watching the layers, the history and the skill!

[@tianzining]

Their names will become history and preserved in the future

[@miltonnicole1367]

t's Grace. Thank you for this precious work that transcribes love and joy to the service of art and humanity.

[@LucasPreti]

*The* best KZbin channel

[@tongmaa]

A trip from 'priceless' to becoming more 'Priceless' in just one viewing :)

[@johnemmons9087]

Wow.... And what an incredibly beautiful painting.

[@mohican6227]

Im just some guy somewhere in California but even i know true craftsmanship when i see it. Wow, just wow

[@pyewackett5]

Stunning !

[@carinamoses2704]

Very lovely flow and voluminousness to the gown she is wearing; thank you for sharing. definitely captures a feeling of sensuality and abundance.

[@carinamoses2704]

The cloud pattern is so beautifully intricate too and it's interesting the mixture of abstract and representational imagery on the dress and painting as a whole.

[@seanbailey8545]

Love to see the behind the scenes of these kind of restorations.

[@waruiboya2575]

Wonderful art saved by wonderful craft.

[@alanlawrence2954]

Beautiful painting. Wonderful clip... Well done all.

[@gailbolton4891]

And all for a picture of a pretty girl. How lovely!

[@RealSalica]

Amazing work .

[@lefthandstory1280]

Very nice paintings,love it👍💕

[@hennabyeevi]

Incredible

[@miekekuppen9275]

Fascinating video!

[@yourmomentofjen81]

What is up with the 8 people who disliked this? lol That aside, it's an informative, although very short, documentary on the restoration of a Japanese hanging scroll painting. Totally worth 8 mintues of your time.

[@lkmayhew9390]

Beautiful work!

[@sallyweiner4180]

Fabulous!

[@piepo5002]

These are really skilled people :)

[@mch12311969]

Beautiful piece

[@meltz911]

Amazing work!

[@dieulinhngo4413]

so amazing

[@shahan905]

Didn't realize so much work went into the conservation of art

[@theallseeingmaster]

I never thought that I would find art conservation so engrossing; but I do.

[@crazykansan3026]

Beautiful

[@lestermiller2717]

I miss this kind of work. I did a lot of restoration work on rev war to civil war artifacts. Spent a summer in Japan on a dig of a 1450 temple. We found many unique artifacts they buried. I found a small man made cave underneath the temple with all kinds of art and samurai weapons. My big dig was in China along the three gorge dam sight. Ancient sight all over the mountain sides. Anywhere from 14,000 to 500 BC. Very interesting.

[@benparkinson8314]

Wonderful😊

[@MrGyges]

You win - wonderful

[@jimmoriarty3381]

god i love this channel

[@W4iteFlame]

that's great, thank you

[@rebeccamoras6287]

YES

[@user-xd2xy6we1r]

She is an oiran and very gorgeous 💁‍♀️🤩

[@RetreatSyndromeJapan]

Big thanks to The British Museum! ;)

[@excession3076]

Don't you know? Everything in the BM is stolen and everything should be given back to the various s'hole countries and then the world can watch them rot. But we will be cleansed of our sins. So progressive, so enlightened. (I hope the sarcasm translates)

[@asiadrapata1080]

beautiful oiran

[@Norfolk250]

Astounding that it can be done so fully ~ disappointing I wasn’t shown closeups of the finished effort.

[@Citadel1221]

Are these guys wizards? I think these guys are wizards.

[@neallockhart2637]

5 people dont appreciate beauty and history?? Literally what is to dislike lol

[@ezragonzalez8936]

Great Scott its Christopher Lloyd!

[@dadude4960]

"it was cut down by the first curators" amazing......

[@sigmundfreud7903]

Are there any known Japanese art works done on vellum with the function of a scroll?

[@TheGrmany69]

Is the silk filament actual golden orb spider's silk? It's golden, super strong and thin, it seems like.

[@billwandt7982]

❤ how do I make the paste that connects the scroll to the bottom rod on a antique scroll ?😊

[@peterkilbridge6523]

The cover photo shows a hair-pinned courtesan and the misnomer "UTOMARA". I guess Kipling was right: East is East and West is West, and never the twain shall meet.

[@noeraldinkabam]

I do not understand 6:10. Is the whole thing semi rolled up there?

[@LostCaper]

I look forward to see more of your videos in 2019. I also look forward to adding more videos to my own homesteading and cabin build channel, Green Acres, Riches to Rags.

[@bryankelly335]

:)

[@gangisspawn1]

6:00, dude has that folded pretty harsh.

[@crazycatcarnt]

I was like cool the British Museum are restoring their own artwork and then nek minnit the other dudes from the Mitsubishi corporation are doing it and it’s living at their museum and I’m like that made a twist and I’m still like no one is talking about what just went on

[@mr.metamovies2419]

Obviously this is coming from the British Museum...

[@blueberryjapan6015]

Kitagawa Utamaro did not paint in the last years of his life. After his imprisonment for breaking the censorship law he was a broken man.

[@morganolfursson2560]

This is a perfect example for Japanese to show them that Japanese and NoJapanese can work together and do a good job , and that it doesn't only take to be Japanese to restore Japanese pieces of art , or be a true traditional Japanese craftsman . I have a friend who is a master Kimono maker and restorer but because he is not Japanese , Japanese people and museums are reluctant at passing orders to him. Until last year when a very famous Onnagata Kabuki actor saw his work and asked him to restore an antique kimono and also produce three Kimono for a play. He worked day and night for 11 months on restoring the Kimono and producing the 3 commissioned ones, During this period of time the word got around that this famous stage actor was working with this Gaijin who had been on that Kyoto street for 11 years making kimono for other Gaijin, and suddenly , the phone which had been silent for years, started ringing all day in his atelier and people wanted to pass orders to him . He finished the order passed by the famous actor, delivered it , and it turned out that the actor absolutely loved the work, but my friend was so affected by the fact that nobody even considered appreciating his work or entering his atelier for years until a renowned person dared paying attention to him, that he declined all the orders, closed the shop and left the country . Three kimono makers who had always shown their back to him , asked him to stay (probably because the actor seemed a little annoyed by what the Kyoto Kimono industry had done to tarnish his reputation and diminish the value of his work, and because this wonderful Onnagata said that "His work was far better than the new generation of Eriman and Tatsumura" The two most venerated kimono makers in Kyoto. But my friend kindly declined their offer to stay, and by leaving made the two Kimono dealers lose face . I remember meeting with my friend the actor a few months later and he told me this story and then adding that this would probably make a wonderful modern Kabuki play , full of intrigue , honor, betrayal , and passion, all that was missing was a death , but this is what would make it so modern , he added . Today this man, works for one of the biggest and best Haute Couture house in Paris and his stitching technique along with his mastery in embroidery and tailoring are immensely valued . He sometimes tell the story of how once upon a time, for a few months he was the toast of the Kyoto and the city's most infamous craftsman and Gaijin. Japan is full of stories like this that not too many people know about . Japan has no citizenship , it is only a Craftsman devotion to his craft and the passion, intelligence, patience and serious he applies to his work that are relevant, not his passport . I am sure that in a hundre years his Kimonos will be in Museums and he will be recognized as one of the best in the business . Until then, Kyoto tries to forget about him, but i make sure at least once a year, to visit some Kimono dealers shops and ask about the man. People seem to have a very selective amnesia though . Anyway , this video first made me very happy because Japanese and Non Japanese finally worked together on the restoration of Japanese masterpieces, But then i realized this was happening in London not at the Tokyo metropolitan museum , where 150% of the restoring is Japanese . Japan has fewer and fewer kids and the rare one they have couldn't care less about a career in restoration of old museum pieces ,s so Japan better start valuing the work of whoever excels at it and stop judging a person's excellence on his Yamato ancestry.

[@amaziahofjudah9722]

These conservation efforts are very interesting, not because of the technical aspects, but because of the philosophical statements all the people involved in the restoration make! While they are dealing with a material work of art, their relationship to it is defined by the immaterial. Like the statement about the ‘worth’ of a piece of art, based on the number of surviving paintings by the artist and the age of the work. It suggests there is such a thing as a true essence of things which stems from their historical characteristics, it also reaffirms institutions, most obviously the British Museum as a sort of evaluator of this true essence, but also less obvious institutions like the liberal nation state and the society which produced the painting. The relationship of the conservators to the painting isn’t neutral it’s positive beyond the material dimension, it values the aesthetic dimension of a past society, thereby also reaffirming the values derived from that aesthetic: honor, tradition, ideas about women etc. The British Museum therefore as an inherently bourgeois institution, reaffirms terrible societies of the past, by respecting their values and beliefs. The older and therefore more alien the painting is the easier this is to swallow most likely, but just imagine if more recent regressive societies were treated with the same respect, if you were conserving fascist art directly from Hitler’s collection, you’d feel a little uneasy about treating it with the same admiration. This is because art from the early stages of the nation state and the societies the nation state claims to supersede become part of a positive affirmation of national ideals, while art from the worst excesses of the nation state idea would undermine them. Tl;dr By always expressing admiration and the notion of an intrinsic essence of things, the British Museum is promoting liberal ideas and actively harming critical and progressive positions

[@rlt94]

I completely understand where you're coming from, and don't wholly disagree, but I do feel like for a lot of people, myself included, restoring such a piece is more of a nod to skilled laborers of the past by skilled laborers of the present rather than a naive exhibition of the society it came from through rose glasses. That isn't to say what you describe above doesn't happen.

[@amaziahofjudah9722]

rlt94 But wouldn’t you agree that it’s sort of mind boggling that a painting depicting forced sex slavery, created by a culture whose ideas about women’s autonomy ended up creating an industrial rape machine in their overseas territories by enslaving thousands as so-called ‘pleasure women’, doesn’t even get the slightest comment of moral disapproval?

[@rlt94]

@@amaziahofjudah9722 Yeah I would, that's simply due to a lack of education about it in the West, which is lamentable. It was terrible and more people should know about how terrible it was. I guess what I am appreciating here is the process of restoring the old art itself (it's just something I enjoy), and on top of that, this in a way can memorialize the struggle of these women for those who know what they actually had to deal with, and shows us in a beautiful way that they were human beings with feelings and desires and voices the same as the rest of us.

[@amaziahofjudah9722]

rlt94 I like your positive attitude! I guess I'm just a bit more cynical about the past.

[@rlt94]

@@amaziahofjudah9722 I am some combination of positive and cynical.

[@harmlesscreationsofthegree1248]

I wonder why 11 people disliked this?

[@dellythezar8047]

Well , you must understand 11 people dislike this work they are butchers who get kind of lost and pressing button undeliberately, please forgive them,,

[@valeria-militiamessalina5672]

Flabbergasted Cat so needy

[@juliet_burke]

New added fabric is way too busy for he eye, stripes distruct from the painting and surrounding areas.

[@boredwarlock5216]

WE WANT FINKLE! WE WANT FINKLE!

[@jpotokar]

Im shocked, at 5;52, that the delicate painting was folded over on itself, while that conservator was working on the silk border. After all the previous work done on the actual painting, dealing with creases, insect damage and prior restorations, this guy doesnt think to have the painting laying flat while working on the borders? Im truly surprised at this, since there is always potential for (even very light) creases or folds to be caused.

[@p4u7y]

worth every bit of 11 Million british pounds

[@padlabhaipadlathorasapadla4051]

Nobody British museum: let's take everything . And run

[@Whoiskevinjones]

Do other conservators attach their names to arts of work they help to preserve? The signatures may be hidden from view, but it seems inappropriate and egotistical.

[@christianbell4482]

How can the title be so grossly misspelled? ‘Utomara’ instead of ‘Utamaru’!

[@CorporaMedicina]

clip not as good as Baumgartner Restoration ...

[@adlib9711]

savcob yeah and how he put his name on the restoration 😳

[@yaojin5369]

È tutto copiato dai cinesi

[@user-xd2xy6we1r]

And whyy its in British museum why not in any museum of Japan ? 😑🤔😒😒

[@jerina3105]

The Japanese Galleries in the British Museum are sponsored by the Mitsubishi corporation with the intent to support the proliferation of Japanese culture abroad and to contribute to the long-running friendship between the UK and Japan. :)

[@sarahjane434]

GIVE IT BACK TO JAPAN

[@bingobongo1615]

Sarah Jane I am sure the Japanese are happy that the rest of the world enjoys their culture as well. ;)

[@MrBrownnn696]

I wonder how much money is spent on this... When there's people in the country struggling

[@piedwagtailrameau]

Derrick Lopez Supporting the arts and culture is just as important as families in crisis - we have the welfare state to do that, the arts is funded by private donations

[@jobapplicant8447]

Maybe these "people" shouldn't have swam across the border.

[@JAves-xj9ow]

You're so quick to flaunt you're racism that you forgot this is Britain, not the US.

[@Teekoness]

It's far from perfect but this conserves history and art for them, their children and many future generations.

[@rlt94]

Yeah I mean it's no perfect system, but this is conserving a piece of old craftsmanship to enrich the minds of future generations, also I'm pretty sure the money for this project came from a private Japanese grant, and had nothing to do with the British public sector. On top of that, the money spent on this project would be absolutely minuscule in comparison to the sum needed for solving such multi-faceted problems as this, about which I agree with you that not enough is being done by those in charge.