Japanese Painting: Figures from Life, Figures from Allegory

This exhibition, featuring 24 figurative works of art, explores feminine beauty in the ukiyo-e (pictures of the floating world) manner, inspired by fashion trends popular in the entertainment quarters of Edo. As Japan’s shogunal capital from 1603 to 1868, Edo (which is now Tokyo) had a predominantly male population, with a huge contingent of samurai and tradesmen who catered to them; in this male-dominated environment, images of womanly allure became very popular.

Includes works by artists such as Katsushika Hokusai (Japan, 1760–1849) and Katsukawa Shunshō (Japan, 1726–1792).

Exhibition overview from the LACMA website