Japan/ Kano School
Namban Art, Momoyama Period (c. 1600 – 1610)
Tempera painting on mulberry paper covered with gold leaf; lacquered wooden grid
These screens depict the presence of the Portuguese in southern Japanese ports and their meeting with a new culture in the late 16th century. The large-format composition presents a colourful panorama against a gold background.
There is a meticulous representation of the clothes and symbols of a lucrative trade in luxury goods, silks, porcelains, small pieces of furniture and a rarely depicted element, the silver chest.
The first screen depicts a large ship and the disembarkation of the travellers and their merchandise. The second screen maintains the narrative of commercial activity and also documents the presence of the missionaries of the Society of Jesus. In the background, the Christian mission is marked by a Cross and, exhibiting local practices, the Portuguese bear witness to a broad cultural encounter.