From May 17 to July 27, 2025, the Yamatane Art Museum in Tokyo celebrates the 150th anniversary of the birth ofUemura Shōen, a major figure in modern Japanese painting, with an exceptional exhibition entitled "Uemura Shōen and Splendid Women". This retrospective highlights the career and legacy of one of the few women to have made her mark on the art world of early 20th-century Japan.
Uemura Shōen: a pioneer of bijinga and nihonga painting
Born in Kyoto in 1875, Uemura Shōen showed a remarkable talent for drawing from an early age. She trained with masters such as Suzuki Shōnen, Kōno Bairei and Takeuchi Seihō, influential figures of the Kyoto school. Shōen draws inspiration from the pictorial traditions of the Edo and Meiji eras, classical Chinese and Japanese art, and traditional performing arts. Her ambition: to represent the ideal woman, combining external beauty with spiritual depth.
Considered a benchmark in bijinga - the art of painting portraits of women - Shōen stands out for the purity and elegance of her works, reflecting her credo: "I want my paintings to look like precious gems, pure and fragrant, without the slightest trace of vulgarity."
At the age of 73, she became the first woman to be awarded the Ordre de la Culture, crowning an exceptional career.
Key works and artistic career
The exhibition features 22 masterpieces by Shōen, spanning all periods of his career, accompanied by handwritten letters that offer intimate insights into his artistic approach. Among the major works on display are:
- Firefly (1913)
- Scene from the Noh Play Kinuta (1938)
- Tedious Hours (1941)
- Fluffy Snowflakes (1944)
- Snowy Day (1948)
All these works, mainly on silk, testify to the artist's technical mastery and sensitivity. They come from the museum's collection, assembled by Yamazaki Taneji, a close friend of Shōen and founder of the Yamatane Museum.
A dialogue between generations of women artists
The exhibition is not limited to Shōen: it also honors other great Japanese artists, such as Ogura Yuki (1895-2000) and Kataoka Tamako (1905-2008), whose respective birthdays are celebrated in 2025. The tour also includes works by Shōen's contemporary Kaburaki Kiyokata (1878-1972) and his successor Itō Shinsui (1898-1972), illustrating the richness and diversity of bijinga through the generations.
Practical information and immersive experience
- Dates: May 17 - July 27, 2025 (closed Mondays, except July 21 and July 22)
- Opening hours: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. (last entry at 4:30 p.m.)
- Prices: 1,400 yen (adults), 1,100 yen (students), free for children under 15; 200 yen discount for visitors wearing kimono
With nearly 60 works on display, this retrospective offers a unique insight into the refined world of Japanese women's painting, revealing the creative force and timeless modernity of Uemura Shōen and her heirs.
