Exhibition "Paintings of an Elusive World. The Golden Age of Japanese Graphics"

"Pictures of an elusive world" - in Japanese, "ukiyo-e" - this is the name of the graphics of the Edo era (XVII - transl. Half of the XIX century) with scenes from the life of citizens, portraits of geisha, actors of the kabuki theater and images of birds and flowers. The concept, borrowed from the philosophy of Zen Buddhism, emphasizes the ephemerality of vanishing moments and the ability to enjoy the moment in a rapidly flowing river of time. Color engraving had no analogues in the countries of the Far East. In Japan, it was extremely popular: it adorned the interiors of houses, used as posters for theatrical productions, advertisements for tea houses and “fun” neighborhoods.

The rise of Ukiyo-e is closely connected with the period of the rise of Edo - modern Tokyo. By the beginning of the XVIII century, the city had a million inhabitants and surpassed all European capitals in size. The Edo Age is a period of prosperity not only in the fine arts of Japan, but also in literature, poetry, and theater. The fame of the recognized masterpieces of woodcut created by such masters as Katsushika Hokusai, Ando Hiroshige, Utagawa Kunisada, Kitagawa Utamaro, quickly went beyond Japan.

Sakura blossoms, the snowy peaks of the sacred Mount Fuji, portraits of beautiful geisha and kabuki actors, the battles of emperors and samurai - all this became an inspiration for artists of the capital of Japan.

The exhibition runs until December 11, 2016.

The wind of victory. Clear day. Katsushika Hokusai.

Kabuki Theater Scene. Diptych. Utagawa Kunisada