Enfilade

Now on view at The Met:

Anxiety and Hope in Japanese Art
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 8 April 2023 — 14 July 2024 (in four rotations)

Suzuki Harunobu, Young Woman Riding a Carp, 1760s, woodblock print (nishiki-e), ink and color on paper 26 × 20 cm (New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, JP1647). Here, the image of a young woman parodies the Daoist immortal Qin Gao, an auspicious figure who rides a carp. On display for rotation 4.

Drawn largely from The Met’s renowned collection of Japanese art, this exhibition explores the twin themes of anxiety and hope, with a focus on the human stories in and around art and art making. The exhibition begins with sacred images from early Japan that speak to concerns about death, dying, and the afterlife or that were created in response to other uncertainties, such as war and natural disaster. The presentation then proceeds chronologically, highlighting medieval Buddhist images of paradises and hells, Zen responses to life and death, depictions of war and pilgrimage, and the role of protective and hopeful images in everyday life. In the final galleries, the exhibition’s underlying themes are explored through a selection of modern woodblock prints, garments, and photographs.

Rotation 1 | 8 April — 13 August 2023
Rotation 2 | 26 August — 26 November 2023
Rotation 3 | 16 December 2023 — 14 April 2024
Rotation 4 | 27 April — 14 July 2024

The exhibition is made possible by The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Foundation Fund.

Now on view at The Met:

Embracing Color: Enamel in Chinese Decorative Arts, 1300–1900
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 4 July 2022 — 4 January 2026

Snuff Bottle with Fish, late 18th–early 19th century, Qing dynasty (1644–1911), overlay glass with ivory-and-glass stopper, 6 cm high (New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 21.175.280a, b).

Enamel decoration is a significant element of Chinese decorative arts that has long been overlooked. This exhibition reveals the aesthetic, technical, and cultural achievement of Chinese enamel wares by demonstrating the transformative role of enamel during the Ming (1368–1644) and Qing (1644–1911) dynasties. The first transformational moment occurred in the late 14th to 15th century, when the introduction of cloisonné enamel from the West, along with the development of porcelain with overglaze enamels, led to a shift away from a monochromatic palette to colorful works. The second transformation occurred in the late 17th to 18th century, when European enameling materials and techniques were brought to the Qing court and more subtle and varied color tones were developed on enamels applied over porcelain, metal, glass, and other mediums. In both moments, Chinese artists did not simply adopt or copy foreign techniques; they actively created new colors and styles that reflected their own taste. The more than 100 objects on view are drawn mainly from The Met collection.

Rotation 1 | 4 July 2022 — 30 April 2023
Rotation 2 | 20 May 2023 — 24 March 2024
Rotation 3 | 13 April 2024 — 16 February 2025
Rotation 4 | 1 March 2025 — 4 January 2026

This exhibition is made possible by the Florence and Herbert Irving Fund for Asian Art Exhibitions.