With Profit and Pleasure: The Legacy of Japanese Prints

With Profit and Pleasure: The Legacy of Japanese Prints explores the vivid and imaginative world of 19th-century Japanese ukiyo-e prints and their impact beyond Japan. The exhibition considers how these “floating world pictures” depicted urban pleasure, beauty, and eventually the natural world, and examines why they fascinated Western visitors such as Evergreen’s John Work Garrett during his 1899 trip to Japan.

The exhibition also traces ukiyo-e’s influence on Western artists who challenged Renaissance conventions. Works by Japanese masters Utagawa Hiroshige and Katsushika Hokusai are considered alongside the work of artists represented in Evergreen’s historic rooms, including Edgar Degas and Édouard Vuillard. Displays throughout Evergreen’s collection reveal unexpected examples of the continuing global legacy of Japanese prints.

When: October 8, 2026–June 27, 2027

Venue: Evergreen Museum & Library, North Wing Gallery

Focus: The exhibition examines 19th-century ukiyo-e prints, their themes of city life, pleasure, and nature, and their influence on Western art and Evergreen’s collection.

Featured Artists: Utagawa Hiroshige, Katsushika Hokusai, Edgar Degas, and Édouard Vuillard

Historical Context: John Work Garrett encountered ukiyo-e during a 1899 visit to Japan, inspiring the exhibition’s exploration of the prints’ appeal to Western travelers and collectors.

Tickets: Price not available