Manufactured Goods on Display: Japanese Woodblock Prints at the National Industrial Exhibitions of 1877 and 1881

Abstract

Abstract This article examines the presence of Japanese woodblock prints within the context of state-sponsored exhibitions during the Meiji era (1868–1912). Although the Meiji government organized five National Industrial Exhibitions at irregular intervals, woodblock prints were exclusively showcased at those organized in 1877 and 1881. This article identifies the woodblock prints wherever possible, and addresses questions relating to their role in advancing (Western) exhibition culture, the emergence of modern education, and the growing concern over the impact of popular prints on the future and the reputation of Japanese fine and decorative art.