Japan 1902

On their way home from Australia in September 1902, Collingwood and Harold Cobb paid a two week, visit to Japan. Collingwood's copying of Japanese woodblock prints before this trip suggest that he already had an interest in the country and the family's numerous Japanese Chin dogs add to this impression. More generally, since the opening up of Japan in 1853 there had been great interest and admiration in the West for Japanese art and culture.

                                    Collimgwood's copies of woodblock prints

In Tokyo he visited the School of Art.

I was mostly interested in watching the Professor of Painting. In a few strokes of a large brush he produced a wonderfully clever result, in a few bold, unhesitating movements in a few minutes resulted in a work of genius – a suggestion in a few curves of his facile wrist. He most generously presented me with a couple of his drawings.

He admired the  Japanese girls.

Besides being pretty in a small way, the girls are extremely picturesque, blending the bright colours of their obi (sash) and kimono (outer garment) with the born instinct of a Paris milliner: their beautifully coiffured head of hair, perhaps guarded by a sun shade, and their geta (clogs) add to the general effect, which as a whole is extremely pleasing.

On board ship at the end of the visit, he wrote about his feelings.

My visit to Japan has been so enchanting that I have had no time to do else than stand agape and watch the different vistas pass away without record in my journal. But a brief fortnight has left me with more memory pictures than months of travel elsewhere. I have never seen man and nature in such close accord or a land of such artistic taste.

This was the start of a long and productive association between Collingwood Ingram and Japan.