Edo Avant Garde

The Guardians of Edo Avant-Garde reveals the pivotal role Japanese artists of the Edo era (1603 – 1868) played in setting the stage for the “modern art” movement in the West. During the Edo era, while a pacified Japan isolated itself from the world, audacious Japanese artists innovated stylization, abstraction, minimalism, surrealism, geometric composition and the illusion of 3-D.

Quick links to useful resources:

List of Artists and their Works

A Guide to Japanese Names

Glossary and Pronunciation Help

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MODULE 2
How Japanese Buddhism and Shintoism influenced Edo era art

Introduction to Japanese Religions

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Introduction to Text and Image in Edo Art

Introduction to Text and Image in Edo Art (PDF)

High School Lesson Plans

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Middle School Lesson Plans

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Elementary School Lesson Plans

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Shintoism

Buddhism and Ito Jakuchu

Animal Spirits and Soga Shohaku

Spirituality and Perspective

The Educational Modules are made possible by support from The Japan Foundation Center for Global Partnership