Exhibition Outlines

Mt. Fuji is a mountain that has been worshiped as a miraculous mountain from ancient times, and is still the most famous mountain representing Japan. It has been the theme of many waka poems and paintings of famous places, known as a mountain deeply related with literature and art. Since the Meiji era, this mountain gradually became a symbol of Japan, and was considered as a scene fit for the Imperial Court. This tendency can be seen in the themes of various modern objects created according to Imperial order or for gifts to the Court.

The scenes depicting Mt. Fuji in the modern era, show consciousness of emphasis on realistic expression based on actual scenery, until the middle of the Meiji era. However, the presence of this mountain as the symbol of the country gradually increased, and it was bestowed with the character as a holy mountain, and gradually became depicted in an idealized beautiful form.

In this exhibition, we will observe the sublime feeling towards the Imperial Court and the idealistic beauty expressed in depictions of Mt. Fuji, through works by artists such as Yokoyama Taikan, and also clarify the characteristics of expressions of Mt. Fuji during the modern era, through the various works of nihonga (Japanese paintings), yoga (western style paintings) and photography.

Mt. Fuji has continued to comfort the Japanese people, in spite of transition in expression due to the changing of the eras from Meiji, Taisho to Showa. We hope you may come in contact with its charm.