A Journey along the Kisokaidо road from Hiroshige to Kuniyoshi

From 16 October onwards, it will bring together an unprecedented collection of around one hundred and fifty Japanese engravings, including some that will be unveiled for the first time to the pubic. Along a route punctuated by the different staging points on the Kisokaidō road, a choice of remarkable objects will echo the engravings that are exhibited: armour, calligraphy sets, katana, battle saddles or even picnic essentials will be displayed.

The exhibition is a journey in pictures along one of the most legendary roads in Japan: the Kisokaidō, which was one of the five roads on the highway network created in Japan during the Tokugawa era (1603-1868). It joined Edo (today’s Tokyo), where the Shogun had his residence, to Kyōto, the imperial capital. Unlike the Tōkaidō road, which reached the former capital via fifty three stations along the coast, the Kisokaidō, with its sixty-nine staging posts, crossed the mountains of the interior. It followed a longer, more spectacular itinerary, sometimes more picturesque and tougher because of the nine steep passes along the way.

In 1835, the Kisokaidō was portrayed in a series of engravings by Elsen (1790-1848) and Hiroshige (1797-1858), which enjoyed considerable success. Two other series saw the light of day, painted by Kunisada (1786-1865) and Kuniyoshi (1797-1861).

They make up the two largest sections of the exhibition route.

With exceptional loans from the Georges Leskowicz Collection.

COMMISSIONER

· Manuela Moscatiello, Cernuschi Museum Japanese Collections manager.

The Partner Exhibition

The exhibition has a partnership with the Japanese Cultural Centre and visitors with a ticket for the Voyage sur la route de Kisokaido exhibition and holders of the Paris Musées card benefit from a reduced rate for the Secrets de beauté exhibition to be discovered at the Japanese Cultural Centre in Paris till 6 February 2021.

This unprecedented exhibition brings together 150 engravings and 60 objects (mirrors, combs, hairpins, wigs, etc.), plunging into the intimate life of women’s beauty rituals during the Edo era (1603-1868). Further details here