New print exhibition celebrates Japan and the sea

A new exhibition opening today at the Fitzwilliam presents a vivid selection of woodcut prints and books from the Fitzwilliam's collection illustrating the relationship between the people of Japan and the sea that surrounds them, from the mythical to the everyday. Gifts of the Ebb Tide: Japan and the Sea in Ukiyo-e Prints (18 May - 15 August 2010) brings together superb examples of the ukiyo-e genre - which translates as 'pictures of the floating world' - depicting scenes and subjects as diverse as the underwater palace of the 'Dragon King', ghosts of warriors rising from the waves, figures enjoying picnics and shell collecting on expansive beaches, fishermen hauling in their catch - and even restaurants serving it.
The exhibition showcases work by artists such as Utamaro, Yoshitoshi, Kuniyoshi, Kunisada and Hiroshige, as well as a number of print books, including Hokusai's 100 Views of Fuji. Visitors will also have the chance to see an impression of the world's most famous image of the raw power of the sea, Hokusai's woodcut of The Great Wave, on loan from The British Museum. Find out more

18 May 2010