Whereas European art often depicts nature as something to be feared—a place of wolves and specters—nature in Japanese art is respected, even revered, as an ideal retreat for those needing meditation or tranquility. Beginning in the Heian period (794–1185), nature developed into one of the most common themes in Japanese painting.

Japanese Paintings: A Walk in Nature features 24 paintings on scrolls and screens spanning four centuries (16th to 20th), which depict nature painted from observation or from memory in adherence to established models. The exhibition, which includes deities finding space for meditation and joy within nature, flora and fauna, and human appreciation of nature within the setting of a garden, highlights works by representational artists from the Maruyama, Rinpa, and Literati schools, as well as pieces heavily influenced by Chinese masterpieces.