The exhibition selected from the permanent collection was on view from Apr.6 to May 1, 2022
It includes Japanese paintings and woodblock prints from the 17th to the early 20th centuries by TSUBAKI Sadao, HASHIMOTO Kansetsu, ITOH Shoha, GION Seitoku, TSUKIOKA Yoshitoshi, UTAGAWA Hiroshige, MORTIMER Menpes, YOSHIDA Hiroshi, NAKAMURA Hocho, and so on.
⁂Prints related to Kyoto and Osaka
The title of the woodblock print above is "Beauties" by GION Seitoku ,祇園 井特, (1755? ～1815 or later) who depicted beautiful Maiko or apprentice geisha in Kyoto. Seitoku had a distinctive painting style such as depicting her face realistically, which was quite different from KITAGAWA Utamaro in Edo. This print was produced around in 1804 ～1818.
The title of the woodblock print above is "The Willow Tree at the Gate of the Shimabara 嶋原leasure Quarter," from the series Famous Places of Kyoto, by UTAGAWA Hiroshige (1797～1858) You'll see a courtesan and two Kamuros or apprentices of courtesans seeing off three drunken guests at the gate of the house. Shimabara was one of the red-light districts authorized by the Tokugawa Shogunate in Kyoto.
The title of the woodblock print above is "Slovenly-Looking(だらしない様相)" from the series Thirty-two Aspects of Customs and Manners, by TSUKIOKA Yoshitoshi 月岡芳年 (1839～1892). Yoshitoshi depicted Maiko in Kyoto dozing after work. You can easily guess how much she was exhausted. The print was produced in 1888 (明治 21年).
⁂Special Edition: TSUBAKI Sadao (椿貞雄)
The title of the oil painting above is "Winter Melon (冬瓜)" by TSUBAKI Sadao (1896～1957). Under the influence of KISHIDA Ryusei (岸田劉生), whose works 'portrait of Reiko' are noted, Sadao depicted winter melons many times.
This is a part of the two-panel screens of the ink painting (墨絵) with light color (淡彩). The title is "Four Seasons in Heaven".
Sadao had lived at Funabashi in Chiba Prefecture since 1927 until he passed away in 1957.
While he lived there peacefully, he devoted himself in not only oil paintings but also water paintings. And he gradually changed the style of painting.
He depicted his own daughters playing in the garden symbolizing heaven.
The painting was produced in 1936 (昭和 11年).
⁂Excellent Artists of Nihonga in Modern Kyoto
The title of the ink painting with light color is "Evening Rain in China's Canal City"
by HASHIMOTO Kansetsu 橋本関雪 (1883～1945).
After Kansetsu studied nihonga or Japanese style of paintings at a school established by TAKEUCHI Seiho 竹内栖鳳 (1864～1942), he visited China every year, where he was inspired by Chinese scenery and Chinese classical literature.
The painting was produced in 1919 (大正 8年).
⁂Modern Prints depicting Kyoto
The title of the etching is "Watching the Play, Kyoto 京都 芝居見物"
by MENPES Mortimer (1855～1938). He was born in Australia, studied arts in London, and then visited Japan in 1887 and 1896. While staying in Japan, he became a disciple of KAWANABE Kousai 河鍋暁斎 (1831～1889).
This etching was produced in around 1888 ～1914).
The title of the woodblock print above is "Spring Rain, from series Eight Scenes of Cherry Blossoms" by YOSHIDA Hiroshi 吉田博(1876～1950). He depicted the atmosphere of cherry blossoms viewing in a rainy day at Maruyama Park at Gion.
This print was produced in 1935(昭和10年).
⁂Designs
The woodblock print above is from "Korin Gafu 光琳画譜"(A Book of Pictures by Korin) by NAKAMURA Hochu中村芳中(?～1819). Hochu incorporated the style of OGATA Korin 尾形光琳(1658～1716) and developed his own style of painting. He is a unique artist of the Rinpa school in Osaka who had non-decorative and humorous style of drawing.
This picture book was published in 1802 (享和2年）
More about Chiba City Museum of Art: please access https://www.tokyo2020chiba.com/post/shall-we-see-the-museums