A Dance Party: Enjoying Cherry Blossom Viewing at Ueno (Tōbukai Ueno ōka yūran no zu)

Yōshū (Hashimoto) Chikanobu

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The scene is set high on a hill in Ueno Park overlooking Shinobazu Pond, in the famous Seiyōken, one of Japan’s first Western-style restaurants. In the foreground, a female violinist, the new career woman, proudly displays her rare imported instrument as though it were trophy. With roses in her chignon and wearing a curvaceous bustle, the violinist is dramatically contrasted with her obsequious attendants, who crouch awkwardly in traditional clothing.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Met's collection of Asian art—more than 35,000 objects, ranging in date from the third millennium B.C. to the twenty-first century—is one of the largest and most comprehensive in the world. Each of the many civilizations of Asia is represented by outstanding works, providing an unrivaled experience of the artistic traditions of nearly half the world.

Metropolitan Museum of Art