Woodblock prints were an affordable art that could be enjoyed by people of all ages, genders and social classes. In the 19th century printed images of illustrious and notorious women found new popularity in Japan. Going beyond conventional images of female beauty, government directives to improve social morality encouraged the portrayal of women of exemplary strength and skill, while literature and drama delighted in villains who were ready to bewitch and betray.
These prints show not only the creativity of Japan’s printmakers, but also the many ways in which women came to be depicted: dangerous, talented and powerful.」
「1. Ono no Komachi, from the series The Thirty-six Immortal Women Poets
1843–47
Ono no Komachi, who lived during the 9th century, is one of Japan’s most celebrated poets. Her unparalleled beauty is upheld as a feminine ideal, and her work conveys passionate intensity. The poem in the cartouche translates to:
‘It must have been because I fell asleep tormented by longing that my lover appeared to me. Had I known it was a dream, I should never have awakened.’
Tomoe Gozen is Japan’s most famous female warrior. While her historical existence is debated, chronicles of the 12th-century Genpei War describe her commanding troops and highlight her skill in archery, sword fighting and horse riding. Here, Tomoe is shown preparing to behead her opponent Musashi Saburōemon Arikuni. Prints of famous warriors became increasingly popular in the early 19th century.
In Japanese folklore, foxes are shapeshifters with supernatural powers. The mythical Tamamo no Mae was a cruel and ambitious nine-tailed fox. Disguised as a beautifulwoman, she became the mistress of the emperor and caused him to fall ill. When exorcist Abe no Yasunari exposed her true nature with a magic mirror, she was defeated and turned to stone.
Before the Imperial Household Law of 1889 prevented female succession, eight of Japan’s historical rulers were women. Empress Jingû is a mythical figure said to have led an army into the Korean peninsula in the 3rd century. A shaman and powerful warrior, she is often portrayed carrying a sword, a bow and a quiver of arrows.
Beautiful women from the brothel district were a mainstay of prints, drama and literature; in reality, they worked under exploitative contracts. In the kabuki theatre, female roles were played by male actors known as onnagata. Here, actorIwai Kumesaburō II plays the formidable Agemaki of the Miura brothel. Perfecting the performance of femininity, onnagata set new standards for female beauty. Some onnagata are recorded as living as women off-stage.
「6.Kiso no Oroku Combs, from the series A Compendium of Famous Artisans
1843–47
The story of Oroku of Kiso is an example of filial piety and inventiveness. Oroku’s familywas poor, but she supported them by making combs out of a fine-grained local woodwhich, legend says, could cure headaches. In the Edo period (1615–1868), women from working households often contributed to the family business. Handmade combs from the Nagano area are still named after Oroku.
「7. The manifestation of Benzaiten overwhelming Taira no Kiyomori at Miyajima
1862
Japan’s two major religions, Shintō and Buddhism, incorporate several female deities. Benzaiten is associated with water, music and eloquence, and is one of the Seven Godsof Good Fortune. This print shows her appearing to the 12th-century military leader Taira no Kiyomori. Kiyomori attributed his success in battle to Benzaiten and built a temple in her honour.
Often monumental in scale, Hiroshi Senju’s paintings embrace the overwhelming power of nature. During the Covid-19 pandemic, when Senju was in isolation at his home in New York, he found hope in the constantly changing colours of his garden. The vibrant hues in this work represent a landscape as seen from behind a waterfall.
Traditional forms of Japanese dress such as the kimono did not have pockets. A man would carry everyday items in containers suspended on silk cords fromthe sash (obi) around his waist. The arrangement was held in place by a toggle known as a netsuke. Netsuke were an ideal medium for inventive decoration and developed into miniature works of art. Most of the netsuke displayed here weremade between 1700 and 1870.」
「Smoking Tobacco was introduced to Japan by the Portuguese in the late 16th century. Despite attempts to ban it, smoking became popular among both men and women. Men carried personal smoking sets consisting of a tobacco container, a pipe and a pipe-holder. These were hung from the waist and held in place by toggles called netsuke. Both men and women used communal smoking cabinets, which were usually made from decorated lacquer. These incorporated small braziersfor burning charcoal with which to light the pipe.」
Traditional forms of Japanese dress such as the kimono did not have pockets. A man would carry everyday items in containers suspended on silk cords from the sash (obi) around his waist. The arrangement was held in place by a toggle known as a netsuke. Netsuke were an ideal medium for inventive decoration anddeveloped into miniature works of art. Most of the netsuke displayed here weremade between 1700 and 1870.」
The kimono is a garment worn by both men and women. Although sleeve length varies, the basic shape is the same. From the 17th century, male dress was characterised by dark colours and subdued patterns. Yet restrained exteriors often hid flamboyant linings and under-kimono, a fashion that continued into the 20th century. Today, few men in Japan wear kimono, but in recent years there has been a revival. More and more designers cater for this growing market, giving kimono for men renewed style and panache.」
「Studio Crafts Today, many Japanese makers use traditional craft media to create unique works of art. They are supported by an extensive system of art colleges and a well-developed art market in Japan. Numerous craft associations also encourage their activities, as do regular competitive exhibitions. All the objects have been made since 2010, many of them very recently.」
Kawai Kazuhito uses clay to express his nostalgia for 1980s Japan. After an initial biscuit firing, he painstakingly applies dots of glaze to his sculptures to blurthe boundaries between reality and illusion. The porcelain figurine of Ariel from The Little Mermaid at the top refers to Tokyo Disneyland’s opening in 1983. It was the first Disneyland outside the United States and symbolises Japan’s economic prominence during Kawai’s childhood.
Today, many Japanese makers use traditional craft media to create unique works of art. They are supported by an extensive system of art colleges and a well-developed art market in Japan. Numerous craft associations also encourage their activities, as do regular competitive exhibitions.」
「1. 'Memory'2017Kumai Kyoko is an internationally recognised fibre artist. She created this work in remembrance of the Tōhoku Earthquake and Tsunami of 2011, which caused over 15,000 deaths. Kumai works mainly with stainless steel wire. Here she has shapedthe wire into a bundle of organic forms. These represent people’s feelings about the unforgettable disaster that has had a lasting impact in Japan.
Kumai Kyoko (born 1943) Tokyo Stainless steel wire Given anonymously Museum no. FE.57-2023」
「Discovery and Revival An interest in folk crafts arose in Japan in the early 20th century as a reaction to rapid industrialisation and urbanisation. Still active today, the Japanese Folk Craftmovement was established in 1926 by the critic and theorist Yanagi Soetsu. He and his followers collected historical folk crafts and founded museums in whichto show them. They also encouraged the preservation of traditional craft techniquesand the making of contemporary work in the style and spirit of historical models.」
The traditional Japanese form of bedding is the futon, which comprises a mattressand a cover laid out on the floor. The cover is often decorated. This boldly patterned example was probably part of a bride’s trousseau. It reveals how subtle shading canbe achieved using only one colour. Careful mending is evidence of how greatly suchtextiles were treasured.
Cotton with freehand paste-resist dyeing (tsutsugaki)
「Porcelain for Europe Porcelain was first made in Japan in the early 17th century at kilns in and around the town of Arita. The earliest pieces were designed for the domestic market. In 1644,following the fall of the Ming dynasty, Chinese porcelain became temporarily unavailable and the Dutch turned to Japan as an alternative source for this highlysought-after commodity. Japan increased its output of porcelain, with much of it being aimed at the export market and often made in shapes copying Europeanceramics.」
「Europe in JapanThe first Europeans to reach Japan were the Portuguese. Arriving in the early 1540s, they brought with them guns and Christianity. The latter ultimately proved unwelcome. Christianity was banned and the Portuguese were expelled. From 1639 the Dutch were the only Europeans permitted to trade with Japan. They were kept under close scrutinyon Dejima, an artificial island in Nagasaki Bay. Despite the restrictions placed on the Dutch, the goods and scientific knowledge they brought with them werethe subject of both scholarly enquiry and popular interest.」
「Lacquer for Europe When the Europeans came to Japan in the mid-1500s, they were immediately by the lustre and decorative brilliance of objects made from lacquer (urushi). The Japanese soon began to produce lacquer items for export copying European shapes. Early pieces were decorated in mother-of-pearl using techniques similar to those found in China, Korea and India. Export lacquer from the 1600s onwards was decorated primarily in gold on black, and featured elaborate pictorial schemes.」
This extremely high-quality lacquer chest is one of the most important pieces of Japanese export lacquer ever made. It is recorded as having been shipped toEurope by the Dutch East India Company in 1643. Its first owner was the French statesman and Catholic cardinal Jules Mazarin. The scenes on the front and sides allude to episodes from classical Japanese literature. The landscape on the lid featurestemple buildings and a castle complex.
Probably Kōami workshop Kyoto
Wood covered in black lacquer with decoration in gold and silver lacquer; silver foil and mother-of-pearl inlay; details in gold, silver and shibuichi alloy; gilded and lacqueredmetal fittings; French steel key