Tokyo (EFE).- A Spain unknown and far from stereotypes stars this month in a new exhibition in Tokyo through more than 240 paintings and engravings by Spanish and foreign artists such as Goya, Picasso or Miró.
Spain is one of the favorite destinations among Japanese tourists, however, few know its more “exotic” side before it received greater influence from its European neighbors after the Napoleonic invasion (1808-1814).
“This exhibition allows us to see the history of Spain through its engravings and thus understand its culture, the life and the art of the country,” says the curator of the exhibition, Yusuke Kawase, in the book published to accompany it.
This exhibition offers an overview of the historical development of engraving in Spain from the beginning of the 17th century to the second half of the 20th century and explores themes such as flamenco, bullfighting, the work of Diego Velázquez, Don Quixote or the Alhambra.
Among the outstanding pieces are several of “Los caprichos” by Francisco de Goya, a series made up of 80 engravings that represent a satire of Spanish society at the end of the 18th century.
“El botijo”, by Sorolla, is shown for the first time in Japan
Also the singular “El botijo”, by Joaquín Sorolla, a painting from 1904 that was acquired last year by the Tokyo Museum of Western Art and which is shown for the first time in the Asian country on the occasion of the centenary of the death of the Valencian on August 10, 1923.
Under the name “Images and Imaginary”, the exhibition also covers artistic expressions closer to the people, such as advertising posters, especially those to promote local products, such as the famous Anís del Mono, whose posters were designed by the Catalan Ramón Casas. .
The exhibition can be visited at the National Museum of Western Art in Ueno Park (east of Tokyo) from July 18 to August 14 and is sponsored by the Spanish Embassy in Tokyo, the Instituto Cervantes in the Japanese capital, the Center for Hispanic European Studies (CEEH) and Spanish Cultural Action (AC/E).
Before reaching the Japanese capital, the exhibition, whose works were already mostly in the Asian country distributed among some 40 museums, had already passed through other cities, including Nagasaki (south), from where a large part of the plays.