February 24, 2011
The Golden Age of Color Prints
Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on February 2011 In its rush to Westernize, Japan sold off many ukiyo-e prints for a song, often to New England merchants. The upside was that many of the works found refuge from the ravages of earthquakes and wars in the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. “The Golden Age of […]
By Metropolis
Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on February 2011
Photograph ©2011 Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. All rights reserved.
In its rush to Westernize, Japan sold off many ukiyo-e prints for a song, often to New England merchants. The upside was that many of the works found refuge from the ravages of earthquakes and wars in the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. “The Golden Age of Color Prints” is the second exhibition of the museum’s 57,000-strong ukiyo-e collection to arrive on these shores recently. Works on show represent the golden age of nishiki-e (multicolor pictures), including pieces by Kiyonaga, Utamaro and Sharaku. Many of the prints depict slender beauties and famous kabuki actors, material that was subsequently banned as subversive by the Shogunate.
Yamatane Art Museum
Feb 26-Apr 17, free (elem, MS)/¥1,100 (HS, univ)/¥1,300 (adult). 3-12-36 Hiroo, Shibuya-ku. Tel: 03-5777-8600. Open Tue-Fri 11am-5pm, closed Mon & hols. Nearest stn: Ebisu. www.yamatane-museum.or.jp
