Looking East

When Japan opened its port to international trade in the 1850s and emerged from centuries of self-imposed isolation, Japanese prints, albums and objects arrived in Europe and North America in unprecedented quantities. In the frenzy of collecting and admiration that followed, Japanese art caught the eye of designers and artists seeking fresh solutions to artistic problems.
Looking East explores the many movements and artists affected by Japanese art, including the great impressionist and post-impressionist painters Vincent van Gogh, Mary Cassatt, Edgar Degas, Paul Gauguin and Claude Monet. Juxtaposing masterpieces of Western art and design with rare works by prominent Japanese artists, the exhibition reveals the interplay of new styles and themes inspired by Japan.
Drawn from and organized by the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston — world renowned for their Japanese, American and European collections —Looking East consists of more than 170 objects, including decorative arts, paintings, prints, drawings and textiles. The Asian Art Museum is the final stop on this exhibition’s international tour and your last chance to witness the iconic results of an invigorating cross-cultural moment.