Back in late May, the official "Frieren: Beyond Journey's End" crew dropped a stunning illustration of Frieren, reimagined in the iconic style of Johannes Vermeer's masterpiece, "Girl with a Pearl Earring." This was a legit collab with the "Johannes Vermeer: Girl with a Pearl Earring Exhibition" at the Osaka Nakanoshima Museum of Art, and fans went absolutely wild.
On July 13, Japanese publisher Tohan announced a special book fair to coincide with the exhibition, kicking off on July 20 at roughly 270 bookstores across Japan. But here's the real kicker: the previously teased Frieren illustration has now been fully unveiled, and it includes Fern! Fans are absolutely gushing over the complete picture, calling it breathtaking.
This "Frieren: Beyond Journey's End" collaboration features brand-new artwork specially drawn for the exhibition by manga artist Tsukasa Abe. In the illustration, Frieren dons the classic attire from "Girl with a Pearl Earring," perfectly recreating the world-famous painting. Meanwhile, Fern makes her appearance holding a picture frame, completing the art-infused collaboration design.
The duo's composition strikes a magnificent balance, earning rave reviews from fans who are praising Tsukasa Abe's artwork for its incredible artistic flair and how perfectly it fits the theme.
▼ Full illustration
▼ Previous illustration
These exclusive collaboration goodies won't just be available at the exhibition's special store; the official word is they'll also hit online stores later. Starting July 20, select bookstores will get a head start on selling these exhibition-limited items:
"Frieren: Beyond Journey's End" Collab Acrylic Magnet: 1,200 JPY
"Frieren: Beyond Journey's End" Collab Acrylic Stand A (Frieren & Fern): 2,800 JPY
"Frieren: Beyond Journey's End" Collab Acrylic Stand B (Frieren): 2,200 JPY
"Frieren: Beyond Journey's End" Collab A4 Clear File: 700 JPY
Exhibition Original A4 Clear File: 660 JPY
Exhibition Original Postcard Set: 2,420 JPY
Now, about the "Vermeer Exhibition" itself: it kicks off on August 21 at the Osaka Nakanoshima Museum of Art. The star of the show, "Girl with a Pearl Earring," is making its grand return to Japan after a 14-year hiatus, last seen at the "Mauritshuis Royal Picture Gallery Exhibition" in 2012. That previous exhibition drew a whopping 1.2 million visitors, so this time around, it's sure to attract art lovers from all corners of the globe.
And it's not just "Girl with a Pearl Earring"! The exhibition will also feature Vermeer's early work, "Diana and Her Nymphs," alongside several other celebrated Dutch masterpieces from the same era.
via： 株式会社トーハン