The "floating world"— Edo Japan's urban pleasure quarters of Kabuki theaters and high-class brothels —was a place of fantasy, where drama and desire unfolded. It was out of this atmosphere that ukiyo-e (pronounced yoo-kee-oh-ey) painting emerged during the late seventeenth century and continued to flourish until the end of the Edo period (1615–1868).
These pictures of flamboyant actors, seductive courtesans, and beautiful geisha are the subject of Drama and Desire: Japanese Paintings from the Floating World, 1690-1850, on view at the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco from February 15 through May 4, 2008. The landmark exhibition features 80 artworks from the unrivaled holdings of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (MFA), widely regarded as the proprietor of the largest and finest collection of ukiyoe-e paintings in the world.
The paintings of major ukiyo-e masters—including Hokusai, Utamaro, and Hiroshige—will be showcased in the form of screens, scrolls, banners, and theatrical signboards. Many of these have not been on view for more than 100 years. As the final venue for the exhibition's world-wide tour, the Asian Art Museum provides the last opportunity to view these paintings before they are returned to storage for safekeeping.
"Living only for the moment, turning our full attention to the pleasures of the moon, the snow, the cherry blossoms and the maple leaves; singing songs, drinking wine, diverting ourselves in just floating, floating: caring not a whit for the pauperism staring us in the face, refusing to be disheartened, like a gourd floating along with the river current: this is what we call the floating world..."
"With its focus on the pleasure quarters and theater districts of the floating world, Drama and Desire explores the intriguing cultural aspects of Edo-period Japan that have so fascinated the West. The exhibition provides something for everyone: exquisitely detailed, sumptuous paintings of geishas and courtesans in kimonos; rare artworks by some of the most famous artists of the period, including Hokusai, Hiroshige and Utamaro; plus examples of shunga (erotica) for those who enjoy their art a little more risqué," said Asian Art Museum Director Emily Sano. "The fragile nature of the artworks allows for limited viewing—the exhibition is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to view these superb paintings." -- www.asianart.org
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