洛中洛外図屏風|Scenes in and around the Capital

Art Historical Context

Step into the vibrant world of 17th-century Japan with *Scenes in and around the Capital* (Rakuchū Rakugai-zu Byōbu), a magnificent pair of six-panel folding from the Edo period (1615–1868). Crafted by an unknown artist using ink, color, gold, and gold leaf on paper these towering works—each over 11 feet wide and nearly 5 feet tall—unfold a panoramic view of Kyoto, the imperial capital. One screen captures the bustling streets (*rakuchū*, or "within the capital") teeming with merchants, samurai, and festivals, while the other depicts serene landscapes and suburbs (*rakugai*, "outside the capital"), blending urban energy with natural harmony. These screens exemplify the Edo era's artistic golden age, a time of peace under the Tokugawa shogunate when such byōbu served as luxurious room dividers for elite homes and tea rooms. The lavish use of gold leaf evokes shimmering sunlight and imperial splendor, while intricate ink and color details bring everyday life to vivid reality—from tiled roofs and lantern-lit bridges to distant mountains. Popular among daimyo and merchants, Rakuchū Rakugai-zu screens like this one offered a nostalgic snapshot of Kyoto's cultural heart, symbolizing prosperity and social order. Now gracing the Metropolitan Museum of Art through the Mary Griggs Burke Collection, this masterpiece invites you to wander its timeless streets, revealing how Japanese artists masterfully fused decoration with documentary precision.