Yamatoe: uketsugareru ōchō no bi = Yamato-e : traditions of beauty from the imperial court

Abstract

"Yamato-e Japanese-style paintings have captivated people since time immemorial, with the genre's traditions passed down through a long line of artists. Held at Tokyo National Museum, the special exhibition Yamato-e: Traditions of Beauty from the Imperial Court explores this enduring appeal. Many sumptuous yamato-e paintings were produced from the mid-Heian period onwards. These reflected the aesthetic sensibilities and refined cultivation of the nobility. Through these artworks, we can still experience this ancient 'beauty from the imperial court.' However, while respecting tradition, yamato-e artists also hungrily incorporated the cutting-edge artistic trends of each era, with the genre continuing to surprise as an exceedingly enlightened and ambitious mode of expression. We could say the essence of the yamato-e genre lies in this aesthetic tension between maintaining tradition and striving for new forms of creativity. Tokyo National Museum's first yamato-e exhibition in thirty years looks back over this grand, resplendent history through around 250 artworks, beginning with 'The Four Great Illustrated Scrolls,' all National Treasures ranked amongst the greatest achievements of Japanese painting history. This 'encyclopedia of Japanese art' features masterpieces from a diverse range of genres. Dating from the Heian period (794-1192) to the Muromachi period (1392-1573), these works encompass themes like Japan's changing seasons, events from each month, flowers and birds, landscapes, and many famous stories. We hope you enjoy this voyage through yamato-e, a traditional world of Japanese beauty that should also be passed down to future generations."-- Foreword.