Discover Ukiyo-e: Japanese Railway Art and Modernization at Madrid Railway Museum

This exhibition explores the fascinating intersection of Japanese Ukiyo-e art and the advent of the railway during Japan's modernization. It showcases "images of the floating world" that represent the train as a symbol of progress, capturing its integration into urban life, landscapes, and social transformations.

The exhibition "Ukiyo-e. El ferrocarril en el mundo flotante." delves into the suggestive encounters between art and modernity, specifically focusing on the representation of railways in Japanese Ukiyo-e prints. These "images of the floating world," originating in the Edo period and extending into the Meiji era, capture a concept of ephemeral and changing life through urban scenes, landscapes, and social transformations, disseminated via the traditional Japanese woodblock printing technique (mokuhanga). The inauguration of Japan's first railway line in 1872 marked a pivotal moment in the country's modernization. The train symbolized progress and openness to the West, fundamentally altering the perception of territory and mobility. It quickly became an emblem of change within the artistic imagination, with some artists even anticipating its arrival based on Western models. Later Ukiyo-e genres, such as _Yokohama-e_ and _kaika-e_, directly linked to international opening and modernization, saw artists like Hiroshige III, Yoshitora, and Kunichika portraying locomotives in various settings. These prints serve as detailed documentation of the coexistence of tradition and modernity, illustrating how the train reshaped the Japanese landscape, the travel experience, and the rhythm of daily life.

The page mentions that the exhibition will be closed to the public on days when the "Mercado de Motores" event is held. No specific ticketing or admission details are provided beyond this operational note.