Peaceful Pleasures of the Highest Nobility (Kyōraku taihei kiken zu)

Inoue Yasuji

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

It was Emperor Meiji (reigned 1867–1912) who guided Japan on the path toward modernization. He began wearing Western clothing for official appearances from about 1872, and was often depicted in French-style military uniforms, with rich gold braiding. His image in full dress uniform was also captured in a well-known albumen print. The empress and her court ladies were often represented in stylish Western gowns from about 1887. Dowager Empress Shōken (tenure 1869–1912) promoted the adoption of Western fashions but advocated the use of Japanese materials.

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