Past Exhibitions

Japan Envisions the West: 16th–19th Century Japanese Art from Kobe City Museum October 11, 2007–January 6, 2008 SAM Simonyi Special Exhibition Galleries

Organized by the Seattle Art Museum in collaboration with Kobe City Museum, this international exhibition explores how the Japanese saw Westerners and how Japanese artists responded to and interpreted Western art and culture from the 16th to the 19th century. Japan Envisions the West features 140 objects from Kobe City Museum, including paintings, prints, maps, ceramics, lacquerware, metalware, glassware and textiles, along with 20 objects from SAM’s collection. This exhibition commemorates the 50th anniversary of the sister city relationship between Kobe and Seattle.

Due to their fragile nature, 44 works of art from Kobe City Museum will be taken down in late November and new works will take their place.

Don’t miss the exciting second half of this unique exhibition. Bring in your ticket stub from Part I (October 11–November 25) and receive 50% off admission to Part II (December 1–January 6).

Listen to the audio guide that accompanied this exhibition.

America Cariforuniako shuppan no zu (Scene of Departing Ship, Port of California) Gountei Sadahide, Japanese, 1807–1879?, o-ban triptych: woodblock print on paper, 14 7/8 x 30 1/4 in., Published by Choki, 1862 (Bunkyu 2), Photo provided by Kobe City Museum