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Insurance 2 Month Exhibition

Mr. Kuniyoshi -2- December 11, 1951

I have included the dates of the pictures where they were given. As you will see, several pictures have no dates. I mention this because of the rule that paintings must be not more than five years old, and that the artists be living.

I wonder if you made any choices when you looked through the material, or haven't you seen it as yet? Since the photographs have no color, it becomes very difficult to decide about the quality of the work. I left a number of borderline cases in the rejected pile which I might perhaps pull out of it if you were to recommend the painters in question.

Can you tell me a little more about the situation itself? How would it be possible for us to bring these paintings, or others by the same men, to America? Can you tell me how we deal with the Japanese Equity group you mention or whether, in fact, it would be better to deal with individual artists? From this point on I must depend on you for further information, but at least I know that we wish to go ahead and invite a certain number of pictures. Perhaps my earliest choice included too many for our pocketbook. To what degree does the American Military Government relate to our project? Do you think it might be possible for us to bring these pictures over on a government boat? If so, we will have to start proceedings almost immediately. We want the pictures by September 1. 

I will await your answer with much appreciation, and I send you my own thanks and those of my trustees for the great kindness you have shown in procuring this material. We are greatly excited over the possibility of presenting Japanese painting when we open our exhibition in October; the 16th, to be exact. The exhibition closes on December 14th. 

Is there someone with whom we should deal directly in Japan and who could be counted on to forward the pictures at the proper time and in the proper manner? I have no doubt there are regulations regarding the exportation of such material, and I presume, therefore, that someone would have to do a considerable amount of work at the Japanese end.

Sincerely yours,
Gordon
Director

GBW D 

P.S. I have forgotten to mention my shock over the discovery that Japanese painters are painting in the Western style. Is it possible that there are no good artists painting in the oriental tradition? I had rather hoped that we would have such work in the exhibition.