The Splendors of Imperial Japan

Considered to be an important revolutionary period, the Meiji era, from 1868 to 1912, was incredibly important in terms of Japan’s modernisation. This frenetic epoch has been interpreted through various artistic forms, now to be assembled as part of the exhibition Meiji, Splendors of Imperial Japan. Gold-work, painted shutters, photographs, textiles, paintings, bronze statues and ceramics all illustrate this cultural revolution. A number of important figures from the Japanese artistic canon will also be highlighted, including Kawanabe Kyosai and Shibata Zeshin, known for their innovative and liberal style.

This retrospective will also be the occasion to discover the intrinsic links that exist between European and Japanese creators and artists. The exhibition, which runs from 17 October to 14 January 2019, will address the proximity between various Japanese and Western artworks from private and public European collections such as the MNAAG, The British Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum.