Services for Institutions, Galleries & Auction Houses
While Japanese prints can be found in many museum and library collections, many institutions lack a specialist to bring these works to life. From cataloging to exhibition curation, Madison will lift woodblock prints from the archives and into the spotlight whether online, in-gallery, or in the classroom.
Print Identification, Research, & Cataloging
Received a donation or consignment of Japanese woodblock prints? Looking to catalog an existing collection? Have questions about the authenticity, value, or significance of Japanese prints in your collection? Madison will research, assess condition and quality, catalog, and contextualize her findings in an accessible format. For museums, libraries, and other cultural institutions, this information lends greater access, diversity, and accuracy to your collection. For galleries and auction houses, Madison’s reports empower you to make informed decisions of valuation and better target interested buyers.
Shunman Kubo, Various Moths and Butterflies, 19th century. Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Collection Advisory & Management
Madison brings her background in information science, Japanese art history, and hands-on management of a 7,000+ print collection to help you define and execute your collecting goals for Japanese prints. Services include collection assessment, scope definition, collection development strategy, acquisitions assistance, digital & physical organization advisory, collection digitization, and deaccession guidance for Japanese prints.
Hokusai Katsushika, "Mitsui Shop at Surugachō from 36 Views of Mount Fuji, c,1830-1832. Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Curation
Whether you’d like to incorporate Japanese woodblock prints into a larger exhibition or create a focused exhibit highlighting the prints in your institutional collection, Madison is excited to bring her expertise and enthusiasm to your project. The diverse subjects and profound international artistic influence of Japanese woodblock prints invites rich and unexpected connections within your collection. With the popularity of anime and manga, a woodblock print exhibition presents an opportunity to draw a younger demographic into exhibition space. Let’s work together to bring Japanese prints to new audiences!
Kajita Hanko, "Scent of Chrysanthemums," 1902. Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Education
Looking to expand your departmental offerings? Madison offers lectures, workshops and courses for various audiences. As university humanities departments increasingly search for “humanities with legs,” she offers semester-long courses designed to teach tangible skills for the art market. In addition, she is pleased to spark excitement about Japanese woodblock prints in a new generation with an introduction to Japanese woodblock prints course. Shaped by her social art history approach, this course contextualizes the development, shifting roles, and cultural impact of woodblock prints within Japanese history.
Kyōsai Kawanabe, "Skeletons in Motion," two-page spread from the illustrated book Kyosai manga, 1881. Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Online Optimization
As patrons and clients increasingly face their first interaction with your institution online, make sure you put your best foot forward. Poor discoverability via online search engines, unintuitive usability, and outdated design can all diminish your impact on your digital guests. Through search engine optimization (SEO) you will amplify your reach to new visitors, while an intuitive user experience (UX) enables your digital visitors to navigate your website with ease. Madison will audit, assess, and improve the UX and SEO of your collection website to ensure your digital visitors have a seamless online experience.
Hiroshige Utagawa, "Twilight Moon at Ryōgoku Bridge," from Famous Places in the Eastern Capital, c. 1831. Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Accredited Appraisals
Coming soon!
Madison is currently a candidate for Accredited Membership in the American Association of Appraisers. As an accredited USPAP-compliant appraiser I will offer formal appraisals for deaccessioned artwork bound for sale or donation and provide institutional donors with IRS-compliant Japanese art appraisals for their charitable gifts.
Kiyochika Kobayashi, "Fireworks at Ikenohata," 1881. Metropolitan Museum of Art.
