Japanese Prints in Transition

In 1868, Japan underwent a dramatic transformation following the overthrow of the shogun by supporters of Emperor Meiji. This marked the end of feudal military rule and ushered in a new era of government that promoted modernising the country and interacting with other nations.

Japanese print culture, which had flourished for more than a century with the production of colour woodcuts (the so-called ukiyo-e, or "floating world" images), also changed course during the Meiji era (1868-1912). Societal changes and the once-isolationist country's new global engagement provided a wealth of new subjects for artists to capture.

Featuring selections from the renowned Achenbach Foundation for Graphic Arts' permanent collection, Japanese Prints in Transition: From the Floating World to the Modern World documents the shift from delicately coloured ukiyo-e depictions of actors, courtesans, and scenic views to brightly coloured images of Western architecture, modern military warfare, technology (railroad trains, steam-powered ships, telegraph lines), and Victorian fashions and customs.