The Freer Gallery of Art

The Freer Gallery of Art, named for Detroit industrialist Charles Lang Freer, boasts an internationally renowned collection of Asian art and is home to the world's largest holdings of works by the American artist James McNeill Whistler. Freer became interested in Asian art through his friendship with Whistler, whose work had been strongly influenced by Japanese prints and Chinese ceramics. In 1906, Freer donated 7,500 paintings, sculptures, drawings and works in metal, lacquer and jade to the Smithsonian, along with endowment funds. Today, the collection has grown to 24,000 works.

Wooden Kongorikishi warriors (Japan, 1185-1333) can be found at either end of the corridor on the National Mall side of the building. Children take special delight in imitating the figures' expression.
All images courtesy of the Freer Gallery of Art

Highlight Exhibitions

"Winslow Homer: Four Views of Nature" (through May 25); "Golden Seams: The Japanese Art of Mending Ceramics" (through May 10); "Moonlight and Clouds: Silver and Gold in the Arts of Japan" (through May 10)

In "Arts of the Islamic World" see a collection of brass bowls, candlesticks, folios from the Koran and other objects dating from the 9th to 17th centuries.

"Japanese Screens" Folding screens are one of the most distinctive forms of Japanese art, and the Freer Gallery's collection of nearly 200, representing many of Japan's greatest artists and dating from the 15th to the 19th centuries, is one of the most important of its type in the world.

"Korean Ceramics" Simple in form and spare in decoration, ceramics have long been an integral part of Korean culture, admired for their distinctive balance of informality and dignity. The gallery features tableware, Buddhist cinerary urns, bowls and storage jars from the 3rd to the 20th centuries.

 

출처: from: http://www.gosmithsonian.com/museums/freer-gallery-of-art