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An image of Views in and around Kyoto (Rakuchu-Rakugai zu) by An image of Views in and around Kyoto (Rakuchu-Rakugai zu) by An image of Views in and around Kyoto (Rakuchu-Rakugai zu) by An image of Views in and around Kyoto (Rakuchu-Rakugai zu) by

Unknown Artist

Title
Views in and around Kyoto (Rakuchu-Rakugai zu)
Place of origin
Japan
Period
Edo (Tokugawa) period 1615 - 1868 → Japan
Year
circa 1660
Media category
Painting
Materials used
pair of six-fold screens; colour and gold on paper
Dimensions

each screen: 125.0 x 369.8cm image; 137.0 x 381.8cm screen:

a - River running across lower half of screen, Kiyomiz; 125 x 369.8cm; image

a - River running across lower half of screen, Kiyomiz; 137 x 381.8cm; screen

b - River running across upper half of screen, bridge ; 125 x 369.8cm; image

b - River running across upper half of screen, bridge ; 137 x 381.8cm; screen

Signature & date
Not signed. Not dated.
Credit
Purchased with funds provided by Mr Kenneth Myer 1980
Accession number
7.1980.a-b
Location
Not on display
Further information

Following a long period of strife and civil wars in the fifteenth century, the ancient political and cultural capital of Kyoto was restored to its earlier splendour in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. This reconstruction is documented and lauded in screens such as these which, in their panoramic view, record with accuracy and detail the features of the city. Looking eastwards across the Kamo River towards the Higashimaya hills, the area beyond the river at the top of the screens is rakugai (without the city), while the area below is 'rakuchû' (within the city). The lower section of each screen illustrates the busy mercantile life of Kyoto, with the townspeople going about their business in stores and workshops. On the far left of the left screen is the Imperial Palace.

Art Gallery Handbook, 1999. pg. 271.

Bibliography (14)

Ewen McDonald (Australia) (Editor), The Art Gallery of New South Wales collections, Sydney, 1994, 216 (colour illus.).

'Japanese Painting', pg. 53-69., Asian Collection Handbook, Art Gallery of New South Wales 1990, 1990, 53 (colour illus.).

'Recent Japanese Acquisitions at the Art Gallery of New South Wales' by Jackie Menzies, pg. 90-95., The Australian Antique Collector Jan 1981-Jun 1981, Jan 1981-Jun 1981, 90-1 (colour illus.).

'Japanese, Edo period: Views in and around Kyoto' by Jackie Menzies., Art Gallery of New South Wales Collection Series 2 1982, 1982, colour illus., illus.. fig.no. 1, fig.no. 2 detail, fig.no 3 detail.

'Far Eastern Art in the Art Gallery of New South Wales' by Edmund Capon, pg. 22-29., The Connoisseur May 1980, May 1980, 29 (colour illus.).

Editor Unknown (Editor), Nihon Byobu-e Shusei, Tokyo, 1978, 90-91 (illus.).

Bruce James (Australia) (Author), Edmund Capon (England; Australia, b.1940) (Director), Art Gallery of New South Wales handbook, Domain, 1999, 271 (colour illus.). Two images are depicted on pg. 271. Image depicts part 1 and a detail of part 1 of the screen.

Edmund Capon (England; Australia, b.1940) (Editor), Jan Meek (Australia) (Editor), Portrait of a Gallery, Sydney, 1984, 111 (colour illus.).

Art Gallery of New South Wales (Australia, estab. 1874) (Author), Three years on: a selection of acquisitions 1978-1981, Sydney, 1981, 95 (colour illus), 95 (illus.). cat.no. 18. The colour image is a detailed image of this work.

'The World of Samurai Culture', The Asian Collections Art Gallery of New South Wales 2003, 2003, 214-215 (colour illus.). The colour illus. on page 215 is a detail of this work.

Adventures in Asia. An education kit for the Asian gallery 2003, 2003, 10 (colour illus.), verso (illus.). card no.10; the colour illus. on card 10 is a detail of this work.

Sue Ebury (New Zealand; Australia) (Author), The many lives of Kenneth Myer, Melbourne, 2008, (colour illus.). sixth image between pages 464 and 465

Look Mar 2009, Mar 2009, 41 (colour illus.). The colour illus. on page 41 is part b

'The Art Gallery of New South Wales, Australia' by Margaret White, pg. 12., Passage Sep 2009, Sep 2009, 12 (colour illus.).

Exhibition history (3)

Genre scenes at celebrated places of Kyoto, Kyoto National Museum, 21 Jul 1970–16 Aug 1970.

Beauty and Desire in Edo period Japan, National Gallery of Australia, 06 Jun 1998–09 Aug 1998.

The art of Japanese screen painting, Art Gallery of New South Wales, 06 Nov 2004–06 Feb 2005.