What Is Europe? Views From Asia

This focussed exhibition explores perceptions of Europe through specially chosen objects from Japan, China and South Asia.

The new Asahi Shimbun Display, What is Europe? Views from Asia features objects that illustrate encounters between Europe and Asia from the 18th to the 20th century. Each of the thirteen objects on show has a unique story and reveals that this engagement was far more nuanced than has often been presented.

Western perspective was adopted by many Asian painters and printmakers, and techniques such as etching were learned from printed European manuals in Japan. This display demonstrates the influence of European art through the display of a work by German expressionist Käthe Kollwitz. This print shows two men pulling a plough and clearly inspired the woodblock print on display by Chinese artist Li Hua that depicts the same theme. Kollwitz’s prints were introduced in China through a work by leading literary figure Lu Xun. Only 50 copies of this insightful and rare volume were published, and the British Museum holds a copy in its collection.