Fleeting Pleasures: Japanese Woodblock Prints from the Georgia Museum of Art

Drawing from the outstanding collection of works on paper at the Georgia Museum of Art, this exhibition will provide a history and overview of Japanese woodblock prints or ukiyo-e—literally, pictures of the floating or fleeting world. As their name suggests, these landscapes, cityscapes and scenes of domestic life were intended to emphasize the impermanence and fleeting beauty of the world around us. Ukiyo-e prints first arose in Tokyo during the Edo period (1603–1868) and later served as a vital source for European modern artists.  As multiples, their mass production made them more affordable than paintings and added to their popularity. Their varied subjects provide nuanced insights into Japanese Edo culture, and their bright colors and decorative style have long captivated viewers. This exhibition highlights Utagawa Hiroshige (1797–1858) and Katsushika Hokusai (1760–1849), two of the most famous Japanese printmakers. It also features other prominent ukiyo-e artists, including Hishikawa Morunobu (1618–1694), who is generally considered to have pioneered the technique with his single-color prints from the 1670s, and Suzuki Harunobu (1724–1770), who developed the polychrome, multi-block printing process that characterizes the style.

Exhibition includes 27 prints, all in 22 x 16-inch frames, labels, rack card with introductory text, invitation template, and education trunk.