The Kahitsukan
Kissy kissy.
While visiting Kyoto recently, Magda and I stopped in at a retrospective of the work of French photographer Robert Doisneau at the Kahitsukan museum.
This beautifully curated show brings viewers back in time to witness Doisneau's Paris from the 1930s to the 1960s, presented in black and white prints from images captured on his Rolleiflex camera.
The work is organized into five sections - Enfants, Amoureux, Bistrots, La Rue and Artistes - all of which Doisneau treats with both respect and humor.
Although much of Doisneau's portfolio is very popular - the most famous image being Le Baiser de l'Hôtel de Ville, 1950 (above) - many of the works were new to me.
Over the years, I've come to appreciate how well the Kahitsukan presents the work of well-known artists in a new light. Particularly photographers from the era before color.
Like previous shows we've seen there, this exhibition was produced with great attention to detail. The selection of prints and their presentation in the galleries. The design of the show's posters and tickets. And of course, the exhibition catalog.
The catalog was published by the museum's in-house press, in a format consistent with previous shows we've seen there. We now have a small pile of Kahitsukan show catalogs on our bookshelf including Pentti Sammallahti, Martine Franck and Elliott Erwitt.
The Kahitsukan mounts special exhibitions like Doisneau's Paris twice a year, in spring and autumn.
One of our favorite features is the light garden on the fifth floor, which works a little like a Turrell room with a one-tree forest inside. It is definitely worth a look if you make it to the museum.
