This thesis analyses formal kimonos for young women and their prints. This paper attempts to draw a connection between femininity and symbolism through the use of flowers and colours.
The research focuses on the frontispieces from René Descartes' Opera philosophica, printed in 1664 in Amsterdam by Janssonius & Weyerstraten, addressing the role that images play in the...Show moreThe research focuses on the frontispieces from René Descartes' Opera philosophica, printed in 1664 in Amsterdam by Janssonius & Weyerstraten, addressing the role that images play in the understanding of a philosophical text. The first part offers a visual analysis and identification of the two prints, attributing them to artist Cornelis Hellemans. A brief account of the circulation and reprinting of these engravings is also given. The second part looks at the two prints from an embodied cognition perspective, investigating a deeper layer of visual understanding through bodily metaphors. The gestures and countenance of the figures are analyzed in depth through the theories of Lakoff & Johnson. Lastly, the third part investigates the role that images play in reading comprehension through contemporary accounts and studies, especially those pioneered by Glenberg. The possibilities and limits of the embodied cognition framework for art historical research are also taken into consideration here.Show less
In this thesis, I will be looking at a category of popular prints produced during the Boshin War (1868-1869), namely images of children at play (kodomo asobi, 子供遊び). The main question I will...Show moreIn this thesis, I will be looking at a category of popular prints produced during the Boshin War (1868-1869), namely images of children at play (kodomo asobi, 子供遊び). The main question I will attempt to answer, is: How do popular images of children playing made during the Boshin War convey the stress people were facing at that time? I will analyze three case studies of these kodomo asobi prints. I will look at the multiple layers that can be found in each print and what messages or sentiments this might convey. By doing this, I want to reveal the underlying sentiments of these prints and how they convey the stress of the common people surrounding the civil war.Show less
