This summer, Tokyo will be attracting attention from the world. The ukiyo-e, an art genre that represents Japan and has influenced the western art will be exhibited at the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum’s “The UKIYO-E 2020 The Three Great Ukiyo-e Collection” from July 23rd (Thursday, Holiday) to September 13th (Sunday).
Katsushika Hokusai, The Great Wave off Kanagawa from the Series Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji, Yoko-oban, Nishiki-e, Around the 1st to 4th year of the Tenpō Era (1830-1833), Ota Memorial Museum of Art. The world’s most famous Japanese art, known as “The Great Wave” will be featured at the exhibition. While the three museums will be changing the artworks during exhibition, this masterpiece will be displayed during the entire exhibition.
Left: Important Cultural Property, Ishikawa Toyonobu, Woman under the cherry blossoms, O-Oban, Beni-e, Enkyo Era (1774-1748), Hiraki Ukiyo-e Foundation. The Bijin-ga (beautiful women print) were the mainstream of Ukiyo-e and the prints functioned as a medium for spreading the fashion trends.
Right: Utagawa Kuniyoshi, A Tricky Fellow Fond of Mischief, Oban, Nishiki-e, 4th year of the Kōka Era (1847), Japan Ukiyo-e Museum.
This exhibition will be presenting approximately 450 selected masterpieces including Important Cultural Property and Important Art Objects designated by the Japanese government at one place for the first time. The masterpieces will be gathered from Japan’s top three ukiyo-e collections, Ota Memorial Museum of Art, Japan Ukiyo-e Museum and Hiraki Ukiyo-e Foundation. The masterpieces of more than 60 ukiyo-e artists including Hokusai, Utamaro, Sharaku, Hiroshige and Kuniyoshi will come together.
Kitagawa Utamaro, Seironiwakaonnageishanobu Tamamurayaohide Tomimototoyoshina, Oban, Nishiki-e, 3rd year of the Tenmei Era (1783), Japan Ukiyo-e Museum. The yujo (prostitute) and geisha (performing artists) were admired by the common people as fashion leaders and were often portrayed in bijin-ga.
Ukiyo-e was a widely appreciated pop-culture that vividly portrayed the lives of the common people. Its vivid colors and bold designs have fascinated many of the impressionist artists and other western artists, leading to the Japonism movement. The masterpieces with avant-garde aesthetics are timeless and excites people to visit the exhibition in July. This summer, we will recognize the fascination of the world-renowned Japanese culture.
◆The UKIYO-E 2020 – The Three Great Ukiyo-e Collection
July 23rd, 2020 (Thursday, Holiday) – September 13th, 2020 (Sunday)
Works will change during exhibition.
*Please note that the exhibitions and events information listed on this website may be changed in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19. For the latest information, please check the official website.
