EXHIBITION OVERVIEW

To this day, Peter Rabbit—that cuddly, blue-jacketed creature created by Helen Beatrix Potter in 1902—remains adored by fans of all ages throughout the world. To commemorate the 150th anniversary of the author’s birth, the Tokyo Fuji Art Museum will be presenting The Peter Rabbit™ Exhibition, the largest of its kind ever to be held in Japan. Born in London on July 28, 1866, Potter as a child developed a special affinity for sketching plants and animals of all types and, having spent her summers at a lakeside family home, she developed a lifelong love for nature in general. And this love of the land and all its wonders is clearly reflected in the world of Peter Rabbit. With the proceeds she earned as a writer and illustrator of children’s books, Potter realized a long-cherished dream of buying a farm near Scotland’s Lake District, where she would become a pioneering figure in natural conservation while managing her land. This exhibition was made possible through the generous cooperation of the National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, the largest conservation organization in the UK to which Potter donated her possessions. Among the more than 200 items to be exhibited are illustrations and sketches done in Potter’s own hand as well as some of her most prized personal articles. While Potter lived in an era in which women were marginalized, she forged her way to success through sheer will and talent. This exhibition, then, is as much her story as it is about Peter Rabbit.