Impressions of Japan

Utagawa Kunisada II (1823–1880), Poupées exposées dans l’enceinte du temple d’Asakusa : un éventail de beautés sous les cerisiers en fleurs, 1857, gravure sur bois, 366 x 254 mm. Photographie : Julien Gremaud

From 28 November 2025to 29 March 2026

Opening 27 November 2025

The Musée Jenisch Vevey presents for the first time within its walls an unprecedented selection from its exceptional collection of Japanese prints, generously bequeathed by the artist and collector Rudolf Schindler (1914–2015).

Through the works of the greatest masters of the Utagawa school, such as Toyokuni, Kunisada, and Hiroshige, the exhibition Impressions of Japan highlights the richness and diversity of Japanese graphic production and its ukiyo-e. Known as “images of the floating world,” these prints, dating from the 18th to the 20th century, reveal the many facets of daily life in Edo (Tokyo) or Osaka. Immerse yourself in this remarkable and still little-known artistic heritage, where city dwellers in elegant kimonos, lively kabuki actors, literary heroes, and magnificent landscapes come to life in works with vivid colors and abundant detail.

Gallery

Utagawa Toyokuni (1769–1825), L’Acteur Nakamura Shikan dans le rôle de
Suketsune, de la série Acteurs dans une pièce imaginaire, vers 1810–1825,
gravure sur bois, 374 x 255 mm. Photographie : Julien Gremaud

Utagawa Hiroshige (1797–1858), Le Restaurant Aoyagi à Ryōgoku, planche de la
série Restaurants célèbres d’Edo, vers 1838–1840, gravure sur bois, 239 x 357
mm. Photographie : Julien Gremaud

Utagawa Hiroshige (1797–1858) et Utagawa Kunisada, dit Utagawa Toyokuni III
(1786–1865), Hara : la station de Kashiwabara, planche 14 de la série Les
Cinquante-trois Stations [de la route du Tōkaidō] par deux pinceaux, 1854,
gravure sur bois, 364 x 250 mm. Photographie : Julien Gremaud

Utagawa Sadahide (1807–1873), Chūshingura : les vassaux fidèles atteignent leur
but, vers 1840–1843, gravure sur bois, 359 x 244 mm. Photographie : Julien
Gremaud

Utagawa Kunisada, dit Utagawa Toyokuni III (1786–1865), Les Filles modernes en
pleine floraison [partie droite d’un diptyque], vers 1843–1847, gravure sur
bois, 366 x 255 mm. Photographie : Julien Gremaud

Exhibition views

Publication

In 2015, the Musée Jenisch Vevey received a bequest comprising over 2,000 colour Japanese prints (ukiyo-e), most of which were created by the most renowned artists of the Utagawa school, active between 1765 and 1930. These works, with their refined printing techniques, vibrant colours and rich detail, are distinguished above all by their exceptional state of preservation.

With ‘Impressions of Japan’, the Cantonal Print Room presents a previously unseen selection of some two hundred ukiyo-e, depicting in particular kabuki theatre actors, iconic landscapes, the entertainment of Edo society and the richness of textile art.

The bilingual catalogue (French-English) published to accompany the exhibition begins with an in-depth analysis of the themes explored, the works on display and the Schindler collection as a whole. The second part focuses on the technical and practical aspects of printmaking.

Richly illustrated, this publication has been produced in collaboration with the publishing house Scheidegger & Spiess.