Viewing page 107 of 125

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

TELEGRAPHIC ADDRESS "IMPHO TOKYO"

Imperial Hotel Tokyo 

May 13, 1935.

Dear Germain:

I am writing this letter in duplicate, sending it to both New York and Paris, so that you will be sure of receiving it, wherever you are. I have delayed writing for some time as I wanted to give you some kind of an idea or report on the possibilities of business here, which we discussed prior to my departure from the States.

Since arriving here, I have been trying through several sources to find out just what the situation is, how to approach it, and to meet the right people. So far my efforts have brought little or no results. I think you will best have an idea of what has transpired if I tell you things in chronological order. I sent out most of my letters a week ahead of time, so as to lose no time here. We had allowed a full week here, with a leeway on the rest of our schedule to stay on one or two more if the situation warranted it. 

YUKIO YASHIRO: Professor of fine arts here, one of the biggest men in his field, and has written an authoritative book on Botticelli, as well as having a profound knowledge of western painting. Was about to leave for England to lecture at the Courtauld Institute. Saw him the first day, and we discussed the situation at length, i.e., of selling European art either to the museums or to collectors. I think the enclosed editorial best sums up the position of the museums; on top of this, they have no resources, and are amazingly poor in their own art. This I have seen in visiting the museums in Kyoto, Nara, and here. There has never been a collector or collection of old masters here, as the understanding of such art is negligible, and the only interest, or perhaps I should say understanding, is in the French 19th. century and certain modern men, such as Marquet, Picasso (early), Matisse, and others. These, he explained to me, were bought on rare occasions as they struck the individuals fancy, i.e., not on any particular merit as to quality or being an important work, and then, mostly small things, which he assured me were the only things that had the slightest chance of selling.

Transcription Notes:
Reopened for Editing 2024-02-06 19:58:20 MS 4th time re-opening and still issues? -adding paragraph breaks as per previous SI feedback. -depature to departure back to review. ---------- Reopened for Editing 2024-02-05 23:38:31 ---------- Reopened for Editing 2024-02-06 15:52:50 ---------- Reopened for Editing 2024-02-06 16:25:05