Far from being neutral, museums tell us what to value, and not to value.
Those who control how art is understood and seen, shape how we understand ourselves, and our relationship with the past.
Browse Smarthistory images for teaching & learning!
Bank of America's Masterpiece Moment
Hasegawa Tōhaku, Pine Trees
with Masami Zenyia, Executive Director of the Tokyo National Museum
Crafted in the 16th century, this pair of six-panel screens is painted in ink on paper and showcases both Yamato-e and Chinese painting styles. The work features pine trees―a typical Japanese motif―and it has beautifully captured the richness of a Japanese landscape.