Museum Review: Freer and Sackler Galleries

The Freer and Sackler galleries are the Smithsonian Institution's two museums of Asian art in Washington D.C. The Freer houses one of the premiere collections of Asian art, with dates ranging from the Neolithic age to the 20th century. The Sackler gallery features both permanent and temporary exhibitions of Asian art. They are connected to each other, as well as the Smithsonian's National Museum of African Art. 

I appreciated how the galleries provide plenty of historical context for displayed artworks, which can be helpful for viewers who are not familiar with the cultural or religious circumstances of each work.

The Freer gallery was my favorite. The building itself is beautiful, and encircles a picturesque courtyard.

I was particularly drawn to the collection of Japanese Buddhist art. The hanging scrolls and sutras were extremely elegant. The famous Peacock Room is also housed at the Freer, and it was just as ostentatious as it sounds.

Section of Sutra of the Wise and Foolish

James McNeill Whistler, The Peacock Room

Not to neglect the contemporary art, the Sackler pavilion featured an amazing installation by Subodh Gupta.

Subodh Gupta, Terminal

My visit was a rather quick one, and I was mainly focused on the Japanese art at the Freer gallery, so I would like to come back for a more in-depth visit in the near future.