There’s a new exhibition at the museum, Anxiety and Hope. The art is from the 12th to the early 19th centuries.
I was struck by a number of things in addition to the beauty of the work. Considering the age of many of the scrolls, they are in astoundingly good condition—colors are bright and paper intact.
They must be loved by historians because the details are sharp. It’s easy to see how people dressed, how they lived and what was considered important.
However, the gruesome images depicted on many pieces is in stark contrast to the serenity I usually associate with Japanese art.