An album entitled “Japanese woodblock prints of the Edo and Meiji periods”, which was signed by Rosella Menegazzo, was launched at the National Museum of Arts of Moldova on February 25. The album incorporates a selection of the most significant works, starting with the 1930s and ending with the decline of xylography in the second half of the 19th century, IPN reports.

The studying and classification of the color Japanese woodblock prints from the collections of the National Museum of Arts of Moldova represented a contribution to the map of international collections of Japanese art. These are 200 woodblock prints made by great ukiyo-e masters of the Edo period and the beginning of the new Meiji period.

National Museum of Arts director Tudor Zbârnea said the album is an exceptional edition with a very successful content. “The album will somehow facilitate the path to knowledge of the collection and will help us promote the Japanese culture in Moldova,” he stated.

Japan’s Ambassador in Moldova Yoshihiro Katayama appreciated the woodblock print collection of the National Museum, saying this took a step forward by such a well-prepared album. “I hope we will together work further so that we could introduce the Japanese culture in the beautiful Republic of Moldova,” stated the diplomat.

Museographer Tamara Diaconescu noted the cooperation between the National Museum of Arts, the Embassy of Japan and the Japanese Culture Foundation in Moldova. The launch of the album is a final point of a road that is covered by any object that enters the museum and the information that was unknown until now became known to the general public.

The album was issued in 560 copies. Until March 15, an important selection of 80 Japanese color woodwork prints will be on display at the Museum.