The Scientific Eye and Visual Wonders in Edo

The latter half of the Edo period saw the proliferation of microscopes, telescopes, and other optical devices, a development that had a deep impact on how vision was thought about in Japan. In the world of art, interest in reflections and shadows increased, along with the breakthroughs of Western-style linear perspective and bird's-eye view pictures. This exhibition explores the new visual culture that emerged in 18th- and 19th-century Japan, and includes the work of artists like Katsushika Hokusai, Utagawa Hiroshige, and Shiba Kokan.