Osaka
Apr 17 - Jun 10
Osaka City Museum of Fine Arts
Toba-e, a style of Japanese painting introduced during the Edo period, focused on caricatures and cartoons popular in 18th-century Osaka. These figures, often portrayed as anthropomorphized animals, were typically drawn with low noses, large mouths, and long, thin limbs representative of a playful and organic charisma. Toba-e style images were widely published and sold as picture books. Though the popularity of Toba-e did not endure for long, it evolved into and influenced modern manga works renowned today for their comedic elements. This exhibition presents a selection of Toba-e works expressing the essence of this Kansai-based genre, which contributed to the comedic culture of Osaka throughout the ages.