Edo-Tokyo Museum Renewal Commemoration Special Exhibition: Maruyama Okyo - Beyond Realism, The Spatial Revolution

About this event

During the Edo period, painting achieved unprecedented breadth and richness, displaying diverse aspects. Amidst the intersection of tradition and innovation, Maruyama Okyo (1733–1795) carefully observed nature and, through assured brushwork, created a unique painting style based on sketching from life (shasei). However, Okyo's "shasei" went beyond merely capturing the exact form of subjects. His expressions, which also attended to the subtle presence of living creatures and the shifting of light, brought a new dimension to conventional painting. This painting style was passed down to many disciples and had a profound influence on Japanese art. Furthermore, Okyo engaged in paintings that composed an entire spatial environment as a unified world. Representative examples include the screen and wall paintings of the Peacock Room, Banana Room, and Landscape Room preserved at Kameisan Daijo-ji Temple (commonly known as "Okyo-ji") in Kami Town, Hyogo Prefecture. With subjects and compositions meticulously planned for each room, these works, in which sliding doors and wall surfaces continuously generate an original space, are highly acclaimed as the pinnacle of Okyo's artistry. Centering on the Daijo-ji screen and wall paintings created by Okyo, this exhibition traces his artistic career from his early years to his late period. Highlighting the decorative qualities and expansive spatial expressions in addition to depictions based on sketching from life, this exhibition introduces the charm and innovativeness of Okyo's art.

Venue

Edo-Tokyo Museum

1-4-1 Yokoami, Sumida-ku, Tokyo 130-0015