A stunning introduction to the history of Japanese printmaking, with
highlights from the de Young museum's vast collection
In 1868, Japan underwent a dramatic transformation following the
overthrow of the shogun by supporters of Emperor Meiji, marking the end
of feudal military rule and ushering in a new era of government that
promoted modernizing the country and interacting with other nations.
Japanese print culture, which had flourished for more than a century
with the production of color woodcuts (the so-called ukiyo-e, or
"floating world" images), also changed course during the Meiji era
(1868-1912), as societal changes and the once-isolationist country's new
global engagement provided a wealth of new subjects for artists to
capture. Featuring selections from the renowned Achenbach Foundation for
Graphic Arts' permanent collection, Japanese Prints in Transition: From
the Floating World to the Modern World documents the shift from
delicately colored ukiyo-e depictions of actors, courtesans, and scenic
views to brightly colored images of Western architecture, modern
military warfare, technology (railroad trains, steam-powered ships,
telegraph lines), and Victorian fashions and customs.