Exhibition - Hidden meanings. Women and Men in Japanese Printmaking

About Exhibition

At this exhibition you will be able to see woodblockprints depicting subtle iconography and symbols that relate to Japanese history, literature, mythology and folklore. Some are about fashion trends, or gossiping, while others are about beauty, romance, and heroism. 

Historical context

In the 16th century the first Europeans – the Portuguese and the Dutch – reached the land of the Rising Sun known as Japan. Soon, these nations traded all sorts of goods like gold, weapons, and books which of course lead to the exchange of ideas and launched the spread of Christianity. The shogun feared the conversion of local landlords, which eventually led to Japan’s total isolation from the outside world.

Nevertheless, this voluntary seclusion had one exception: the artificial island of Deshima, built specifically to maintain trade relations with the Dutch. It was here where the physician and botanist, Philipp Franz von Siebold, gathered his collection of Japanese maps, animals, plants and artworks like the renown woodblock prints.

This collection can still be seen today in the Japanmuseum SieboldHuis, with a unique exhibition on Japanese prints until the 23rd of April 2023.