Exhibition of Japanese engravings opens at National Museum of Art

An exhibition of Japanese engravings will be inaugurated at the National Museum of Art on December 18 at 12.00. The exhibition is called “Images of the Passing World. Kunisada- a great engraver of the Utagawa School. Japanese Engravings from the XIXth century.” It is organized by the Oriental Art section of the museum, following a detailed analysis of the collection of Japanese art kept in the museum heritage.

The exhibition comprises 63 engravings by Utagawa Kunisada (1786-1865), one of the most popular engravers and drawers of his time. His works were collected by many Western art aficionados, who discovered through them, the exotic Japanese culture.

The engravings illustrate some of Kunisada’s main topics: images with beautiful women, portraits of actors, theater scenes, works inspired from literature and from the legends of Japan. Kunisada is the most important and influent member of the Utagawa school.