Designs that Usher in a New Era

A catalog for the retrospective exhibition of Sugiura Hisui. This book introduces the work of Sugiura Hisui, who laid the foundation of modern Japanese graphic design, with abundant illustrations of posters, advertisements, book designs, magazines, patterns, and more.

It includes many of his works from the dawn of commercial design in Japan, such as posters for Mitsukoshi and art direction for the PR magazine "Mitsukoshi." The book explores the full scope of Sugiura Hisui's work, who pioneered unique Japanese design expressions while incorporating influences from Art Nouveau and Art Deco.

Published in conjunction with the large-scale retrospective exhibition "Sugiura Hisui: Design that Opened an Era," which toured nationwide from 2021 to 2023. In addition to essays by researchers and curators, this definitive catalog includes a wide range of works such as posters, book designs, magazines, advertisements, and patterns, making it a comprehensive basic resource for studying Japanese design history.

[Title] Sugiura Hisui: Design that Opened an Era
[Publisher] Mainichi Newspapers Co., Ltd.
[Publication Date] July 3, 2021
[Page Count] 296 pages
[Size] Approx. 197*263*25mm / 970g
[Format] Hardcover
[Language] Japanese
[Title Reading] SUGIURA HISUI JIDAI WO HIRAKU DEZAIN
[Author/Editor] Ehime Museum of Art, Mainichi Newspapers Co., Ltd./Ed.
[Printing] New Color Photographic Printing Co., Ltd./Production and Printing
[ISBN] 9784620606897
[Condition] Used [6] Very Good to Good (Slight dirt on cover)
[Accessories] None
[Featured In] -
[Related Exhibition] 2021-2023 "Sugiura Hisui: Design that Opened an Era"

Shimane Art Museum
July 3 - August 30, 2021

Tobacco and Salt Museum
September 11 - November 14, 2021

Mie Prefectural Art Museum
November 23, 2021 - January 30, 2022

Fukuoka Prefectural Museum of Art
April 15 - June 12, 2022

Shizuoka City Museum of Art
November 19, 2022 - January 29, 2023

Sugiura Hisui (1876-1965)

Born in Matsuyama City, Ehime Prefecture. Designer, graphic designer.

After studying Japanese painting at the Tokyo School of Fine Arts (now Tokyo University of the Arts), he worked as a designer. From 1908, he was commissioned by Mitsukoshi Department Store, working on posters, advertisements, wrapping paper, and PR magazines, playing an active role as a pioneer of commercial design in Japan.

While influenced by Art Nouveau and the Vienna Secession, he developed a unique design that blended Japanese ornamentation. He was active in a wide range of fields, including posters, book designs, patterns, and magazine designs, leaving a significant mark on the visual culture of modern Japan.

His representative works include posters for Mitsukoshi, cover designs for "Mitsukoshi," "Hisui Hyakkafu" (Hisui's Hundred Flowers), and "Sugiura Hisui Soteishu" (Sugiura Hisui's Book Designs).

Major collections include the National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo, Ehime Museum of Art, The National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto, and the DNP Foundation for Cultural Promotion.

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