A Gaze of Her Own: Women as Prominent Figures in Japan

Preble Murphy Gallery A

9 April 2008

June 2008

From earliest times through the present, Japanese culture has realized the equality of men and women in many ways. Women's voices were included in Japanese literary and religious canons since the myths were first written down in the Kojiki and the first poetry anthology was compilied.
Through thier writing, Japanese women have shown women's points of view and demonstrated a Female Gaze. Writings by over 100 women of the Heian period are known today; the best, like the Pillow Book by Sei Shonagon and the Tale of Genji by Murasaki Shikibu, illustrated here in works of both the Tosa and Ukiyo-e schools, are still read and continue to influence painting, gardens, and film.
As many of the works in this installation illustrate, women have also served as important subjects in the visual arts, especially for woodblock print artists. Less commonly, though nonetheless importantly, women also on occasion rose to prominance as artists themselves. Indeed, the multi-talented Otagaki Rengetsu, several of whose ceramics are on view, is one of the best known and best loved artists of her generation.