From Chester Beatty’s own collections, Edo in Colour explores how woodblock prints shaped fashion, fame and identity in the city now known as Tokyo. From pictures of actors and beauties to masterpieces by Hokusai and Hiroshige, these prints were once as affordable as they are aesthetically refined—a driving force within the popular culture of this vibrant metropolis. Featuring more than one hundred prints and printed books from Japan’s Edo period (c. 1603–1868), the exhibition will be shown in two parts with more to explore online and in the accompanying catalogue. A full programme of lectures, talks and artist-led activities is planned and a selection of Edo-themed prints, stationery and facemasks are available onsite or online from the museum’s Gift Shop.

The Chester Beatty’s collections of Japanese art are internationally renowned. Alfred Chester Beatty (1875–1968) had a long interest in the arts of Japan, but only began collecting Japanese prints in earnest after his move to Dublin. Guided by print specialist Jack Hillier (1912–1995), this exceptional collection which today encompasses more than 850 single sheet prints and 100 printed books was brought together between 1954 and 1963. As part of the project, the commercially-published Japanese prints within the collection (some 450 works) have been fully digitised and made available online.

Presented with the support of the Japan Foundation and Toshiba International Foundation.