Pauly Friedman Art Gallery

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Floating Beauty: Women in the Art of Ukiyo-e

January 16 - March 10, 2024

“Floating Beauty” examines historical perspectives on women and their depiction in art in Edo Period Japan (1615 - 1858). Through fifty-one woodblock prints created in the ukiyo-e style and an assortment of Japanese cultural objects, this exhibition highlights female characters in literature, kabuki theatre, and poetry; courtesans and geisha; and wives and mothers from different social classes performing the duties of their station, in order to gain some insight into the lives of women in pre-modern Japan.

In the tradition of ukiyo-e, women are most commonly represented in the “bijinga” (pictures of beautiful women) genre. Idealized depictions show elegant female forms in sumptuous layers of patterned kimonos, strolling leisurely through gardens or passing the time in tastefully decorated rooms. These prints would have served as souvenirs of the ephemeral world of the Yoshiwara, the licensed pleasure district of the city of Edo, or modern-day Tokyo.

Looking beyond the “bijinga,” this exhibition shows that women in Edo society were hardworking and industrious individuals. Society scorned idleness in women of all ages, and even high-ranking females were required to perform a litany of tasks. Women were expected to be subservient but not weak; weakness would not run a demanding household or manage business affairs. For those outside of a traditional household role such as the courtesans and geisha of the Yoshiwara, life was even more harsh. Similarly, female literary characters were well-defined and robust, but often did not fare well, eventually falling victim to the devices of men.

The woodblock prints include works by ukiyo-e masters Suzuki Harunobu, Kitagawa Utamaro, Katsushika Hokusai, Utagawa Kunisada, Kikugawa Eizan, and Utagawa Hiroshige. The entire exhibition is taken from the permanent collection of the Reading Public Museum in Reading, Pennsylvania, who organized the exhibition.

Events

Public reception: Thursday, January 18, 5:30-7:00pm

Dr. Lalaine Bangilan Little, Gallery Director, highlighted a selection of objects in the exhibition, drawing from her graduate work in Japanese Early Modern art to provide context. Dr. Little teaches Arts of Asia Pacific as an Adjunct Instructor in the Department of Arts, Film, and Music.

Musical Performance: Thursday, February 15, 7:00pm

In conjunction with this exhibition, the Gallery will presented a free performance of traditional and contemporary music on the koto and shamisen by the company of Masayo Ishigure. Support for this program was provided in part by a Creative Sector Flex Fund Grant from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, administered in this region by the state’s PPA Partner, Arts in Education NEPA.

Day of Remembrance: Monday, February 19, 2:00-2:45pm, Insalaco Concourse

This observance remembers the forced relocation and incarceration of Americans of Japanese heritage during World War II. Dr. Becky Steinberger led a reading of Japanese-American poetry and Dr. Lalaine Little discussed Ansel Adams’ Manzanar Relocation Camp Photograph Series.

Public Tour: Monday, February 19, 6:00pm, Pauly Friedman Art Gallery

We welcomed the NEPA Bonsai Society to the gallery for a free tour of "Floating Beauty" led by Gallery Director Lalaine Little. 

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