柳宗悦 兼子 1933 F. M. Trautz and Hilda

柳宗悦 兼子 1933 F. M. Trautz and Hilda

Yanagi Souetsu Japanese Mingei Art Founder 1933 F. M. Trautz

This 1933 New Year's card by Yanagi Muneyoshi (Yanagi Souetsu) and his wife Kaneko was sent from Kyoto-shi, Sakyo-ku, Shimogamo Kashiwabe-cho. They were pioneers of Mingei movement.

Yanagi Muneyoshi (1891-1961), also known as Yanagi Soetsu, was a seminal figure in the appreciation and promotion of Japanese folk art. Yanagi was a philosopher, art critic, and collector who played a crucial role in establishing the Mingei (folk crafts) movement in Japan. This movement sought to elevate the status of everyday crafts and objects created by unknown artisans, emphasizing their inherent beauty and cultural value.

Educated at Tokyo University, Yanagi's interest in the beauty of everyday objects was sparked by his encounter with Korean pottery in the early 1910s. In 1925, he coined the term "Mingei," combining the Japanese words for "folk" (min) and "craft" (gei). Along with potters Hamada Shoji and Kawai Kanjiro, Yanagi sought to recognize the aesthetic and cultural value of handcrafted objects used in daily life, emphasizing simplicity and sincerity.

Yanagi was a prolific writer, and his works helped articulate and disseminate the principles of the Mingei movement. His seminal book, "The Unknown Craftsman" (published in English in 1972), outlines his philosophy and has been influential internationally. In 1936, he established the Japan Folk Crafts Museum (Nihon Mingeikan) in Tokyo, which remains a vital cultural resource showcasing the beauty and diversity of folk art.

Yanagi's connection to Harvard University helped disseminate his work in the United States. In the 1950s, his philosophy caught the attention of prominent scholars and artists associated with Harvard, leading to the publication of "The Unknown Craftsman" with significant contributions from Harvard-affiliated individuals. This recognition helped solidify his reputation as a visionary thinker and a pivotal figure in the global appreciation of traditional crafts.

Yanagi Muneyoshi's wife, Yanagi Kaneko, played a significant role in supporting her husband's endeavors and was an active participant in the Mingei movement. She was deeply involved in the operations of the Japan Folk Crafts Museum and contributed to preserving and promoting folk crafts. The couple shared a passion for art and culture, and Kaneko's support was instrumental in enabling Yanagi to pursue his vision for the Mingei movement.