Edo Period
Japan's Edo period brought peace and cultural flourishing after centuries of civil war. This era produced ukiyo-e woodblock prints, kabuki theater, and distinctive decorative arts. Artists captured the "floating world" of urban entertainment, celebrated nature, and developed techniques that would later influence Western Impressionism.
Historical Context
Under the Tokugawa shogunate, Japan enforced strict isolationist policies while experiencing domestic peace and economic growth. Urban culture thrived in Edo (Tokyo), with a prosperous merchant class patronizing artists who documented contemporary life, theater, and pleasure districts.
Key Characteristics
- Ukiyo-e woodblock prints with bold outlines
- Flat perspective and decorative patterns
- Emphasis on line and silhouette
- Subjects from kabuki theater and courtesans
- Landscape series and nature studies
Notable Artists
Explore Edo Period Artworks
1,160 artworks from 1603-1868 available in our collection
Helmet (<i>Kawari-Kabuto</i>) in the Shape of a Wave
Hiromichi Miura
17th century; restorations, 2015
Armor (<i>Nimaidō Gusoku</i>)
Hiromichi Miura|Saotome Ietada|Myōchin Muneakira
armor, dated 1717; helmet, late 16th century; restorations, 2015
Armor (<i>Gusoku</i>)
Hiromichi Miura
armor, 18th century; helmet, 16th century; restorations, 2015
Helmet in the <i>Zenshōzan</i> Style with Case
Unknown Artist
ca. 1700
Armor (<i>Morohada-Nugi-Dō Gusoku</i>)
Unknown Artist
17th century
Sword Guard (Tsuba)
Unknown Artist
16th century
Set of Sword Fittings (Mitokoromono) with Two Additional Knife Handles (Kozuka) and a Pair of Grip Ornaments (Menuki)
Gotō Teijō (Mitsumasa)
17th century
Set of Sword Fittings (Mitokoromono) with Two Additional Knife Handles (Kozuka) and a Pair of Grip Ornaments (Menuki)
Gotō Tsūjō
late 17th–early 18th century
Sword Guard (Tsuba)
Unknown Artist
ca. 1800
Sword Guard (Tsuba)
Unknown Artist
ca. 1800
Set of Knife Handles (Kozuka) with Emblems of the Five Seasonal Festivals
Gotō Kenjō|Gotō Eijō|Gotō Renjō (Mitsutomo)
late 16th–early 18th century
Sword Guard (Tsuba)
Unknown Artist
17th–18th century
Sword Guard (Tsuba)
Unknown Artist
17th–18th century
Sword Guard (Tsuba)
Unknown Artist
17th century
Set of Sword Fittings (Mitokoromono) with Two Additional Knife Handles (Kozuka) and a Pair of Grip Ornaments (Menuki)
Gotō Renjō (Mitsutomo)
17th century
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Blades and Mountings for a Pair of Swords (Daishō)
Naotane Taikei|Honjō Yoshitane|Yukinaka
blades, dated 1839; mountings, 19th century
Blades and Mountings for a Pair of Swords (<i>Daishō</i>)
Yokoyama Kōzukedaijō Sukesada|乙柳軒政信 Otsuryūken Masanobu
blades, 17th century; mountings, early 19th century
Plate
Unknown Artist
1800–1900
Bust
Miyagawa Kozan
1865–83
Koto (箏)
Metalwork by Goto Teijo, 9th generation Goto master, Japan|Gotō Yūjō
early 17th century
Satsuma Biwa (薩摩琵琶)
Unknown Artist
ca. 1800
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Hitoyogiri
Attributed to Ōmori Sōkun 大森宗勲
early 17th century
Mokugyo (木魚)
Unknown Artist
ca. 1800–1889
Densho (殿鐘)
Unknown Artist
ca. 1856
Showing 24 of 1,160 artworks
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Explore Other Periods
19th Century
1800-1899
The 19th century witnessed revolutionary transformations in art, from Neoclassicism through Romanticism, Realism, Impressionism, and Post-Impressionism. This era saw artists breaking from academic traditions, exploring new techniques, and capturing modern life with unprecedented immediacy.
18th Century
1700-1799
The 18th century, also known as the Age of Enlightenment, saw the flourishing of Rococo elegance and the emergence of Neoclassicism. This period celebrated reason, refinement, and classical ideals while producing ornate decorative arts and grand historical paintings.
Renaissance
1400-1600
The Renaissance marked a cultural rebirth that transformed European art. Artists rediscovered classical learning, developed linear perspective, and achieved unprecedented naturalism. This period produced some of history's greatest masterpieces and established principles that shaped Western art for centuries.