Scene at Yoshiwara Pleasure Quarters, By Hishikawa Moronobu, Edo period, 17th century
Japanese Gallery (Honkan) Room 10
June 17, 2014 (Tue) - July 13, 2014 (Sun)
In the early Edo period (1603–1868), ukiyo-e, which are depictions of commoners'lives in the Edo period, were only in the form of paintings. Later on, a method of woodblock printing was devised and mass production of ukiyo-e became possible. Eventually, a method of producing multicolored nishiki-e prints was established, following the further development of carving and printing techniques. Based on subjects popular among commoners, such as the pleasure quarters or Kabuki theatre, nishiki-e developed primarily through yakusha-e prints of actors and bijinga portraits of beautiful women, leading to the creation of various other genres, including prints of birds and flowers, narrative tales, and landscapes.
This exhibition mainly features works full of seasonal references, which may bring a sense of coolness during the hot summer. Works on exhibit include summery genre paintings, such as of the Star Festival, and people cooling off in the evening or enjoying fireflies at night. Also on display is a series by Keisai Eisen (1790–1848) of nishiki-e prints depicting waterfalls in Nikko (Tochigi prefecture).
Current exhibit includes:
Scene at Yoshiwara Pleasure Quarters, By Hishikawa Moronobu, Edo period, 17th century
Famous Places of Mount Nikko: Kegon Falls (One of the three famous waterfalls in Nikko), By Keisai Eisen, Edo period, 19th century
Parading Courtesan, By Isoda Koryusai, Edo period, 18th century