Thematic Exhibition The World of Matsuri: Disguise and Masquerade

The Japanese word for festival, matsuri, shares etymological roots with the word matsuru, "to enshrine," and the primary purpose of these celebrations is to extend prayers and offerings to a deity. Over time, however, the resplendence and liveliness of these festivals became more prominent, and they became a source of visual pleasure for the Japanese people. Matsuri became known as lively and joyful celebratory gatherings of large numbers of people and there is even a special term—o-matsuri-sawagi—that was coined to describe the "festival fanfare" associated with these events.
The matsuri depicted in the genre of paintings known as sairei-zu are especially beautiful to look at and have a strong sense of celebration, with elaborate decorations, performances, and costumes. This exhibition introduces the rich world of matsuri, with a focus on festival paintings from the Edo period.