Workshop of Ogata Kenzan (1663–1743), Set of Five Camellia-Shaped Side Dishes (Mukōzuke) with Camellia Patterns. Edo period (1615-1868), 18th century. Stoneware with white slip and polychrome overglaze ename l(Kenzan ware). Gift of Florence and Herbert Irving, 2019, The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Kyoto: Capital of Artistic Imagination at the Met Showcasing more than 150 objects in two rotations, ‘Kyoto: Capital of Artistic Imagination’ focuses on the main turning points in Kyoto’s cultural history and examine how political changes and transitions in the city’s social structure influenced its art. Metropolitan Museum, July 24, 2019–January 26, 2020.]]>
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art
The rich cultural heritage of this city was profoundly shaped by the presence of the emperor and aristocrats as well as high-ranking warriors, varied groups of artists, and literati working in the orbit of the palace. Highlights among the works on view, include a medieval armor believed to have been donated to a temple by Ashikaga Takauji (1305–1358), founder of the Ashikaga shogunate; a set of five camellia-shaped side dishes in vivid colors from the workshop of the famous potter and painter Ogata Kenzan (1663–1743); and a rare 18th-century atsuita Noh robe worn by a leading male actor playing a warlord, god, demon, or similar role.
Heian-kyō, as modern-day Kyoto was once referred to, became the seat of the imperial court in 794 and remained the capital of Japan until 1869, when the court was transferred to Tokyo. In the Heian period (794–1185) the culture of the court flourished, leading to new developments in the arts, but in 1185, a new military government was formed, marking the rise of the samurai class. This political transition is captured in the exhibition’s 17th-century folding screen “The Rebellions of the Hōgen and Heiji Eras”. During the Muromachi period (1338–1573), the Ashikaga shogunate nurtured the formation of tea culture, Noh theater, ikebana, and ink painting, and established the Higashiyama culture.
The Momoyama period (1573–1615) is often referred to as Japan’s Golden Age, evoking a dynamic and sumptuous style, with gold lavishly applied to architecture, lacquer furnishings, folding screens, and garments. The exhibition includes exquisite pieces such as lacquers made for the domestic market, a large Nanban lacquer coffer created for the European market, and a stunning battle surcoat (jinbaori) designed for a high-ranking samurai using European import materials. The establishment of the Tokugawa shogunate in 1603 in Edo (present-day Tokyo) by Tokugawa Ieyasu (1543–1616) seemingly marginalized the role of Kyoto and had a profound effect on the art forms and urban lifestyle of the city. In the exhibition, bold Rinpa-style ceramics and lacquers, refined Noh robes, and richly embellished kimonos are juxtaposed with hanging scrolls and folding screens depicting Kyoto and its citizens.
Related content
‘Sunshower’: Contemporary Southeast Asia at Mori Art Museum (exhibition, 2017)
Follow us on:
