Scenes along the Sumida River (detail), By Chobunsai Eishi, Edo period, 19th century
Japanese Gallery (Honkan) Room 10
January 2, 2018 (Tue) - January 28, 2018 (Sun)
The genre of ukiyo-e, which depicts the common people of the Edo period (1603?1868), initially consisted of only hand-painted works. Mass production of ukiyo-e later became possible through woodblock printing, while advances in carving and printing techniques eventually led to the creation of multi-colored prints called nishiki-e. This exhibition will display prints with New Year themes, such as the Seven Gods of Good Fortune and their Treasure Ship, as well as scenery from this time of year. The lineup also includes the folding screen, Woman Looking Out through the Rope Curtain, which demonstrates the transition from the genre paintings of the late 16th and early 17th century to the "Beauties of the Kanbun Era" from the late 17th-century. The latter genre of painting led to the creation of ukiyo-e.
Current exhibit includes:
The Seven Gods of Good Fortune on a Treasure Ship, By Katsushika Hokusai, Edo period, 19th century
Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji: Surugacho, Edo, By Katsushika Hokusai, Edo period, 19th century
Scenes along the Sumida River, By Chobunsai Eishi, Edo period, 19th century