THE RISE OF EDO ART

Christine Guth explains why this period created some of the most striking and lasting works of Japanese art

- Christine Guth

What differentiates Edo art from that of previous periods?

The art of the Edo period is distinct from that of earlier periods in three significant ways, first and foremost because of the country's rapid urbanisation. This period saw the growth of three influential urban centres: Edo, where the shogun resided; Kyoto, where the emperor and court resided; and Osaka, the country's mercantile centre. Each had its own distinctive character. To this influential triad one could arguably add Nagasaki, the port on the southern island of Kyushu where trade with China and Holland was conducted. It was the destination for many artists seeking glimpses of Chinese and European culture. Domestic tourism boomed during the Edo period and travel was an important visual stimulus for many Japanese artists.