Fine women have long been depicted as painting subjects. In modern times since the Meiji Era, painters have not only pursued the beauty of feminine appearance, but have also attempted to express the inner aspects and background behind the behavior of women in daily life. Naked women also began to be depicted with insights and influences. Various images of women were created, and it was after the Meiji Era that works of feminine beauty began to be called “bijin-ga” in the Japanese art world.
In the diversification of painting expressions, many painters in the Japanese art world became famous for bijin-ga. For example, Kaburaki Kiyokata expressed the sensitive emotions of women and Ito Shinsui depicted women who actually existed. In particular, Uemura Shoen, who continued to depict women in a positive, traditional sensibility with her skillful, delicate brush strokes, is considered to be representative of bijin-ga masters in modern Japanese painting.
This year is the 70th anniversary of Shoen's death. To celebrate it, we will exhibit bijin-ga works by Shoen and other painters, including Kiyokata and Shinsui. Through their various works, we hope you appreciate this world of fine, elegant women.

We will showcase masterpieces of kacho-ga (Flower and Bird Paintings) selected from our collection. You will enjoy various masterpieces, including a great piece depicting crested myna in a verdant bamboo forest and an ordinary-life-taste work of sparrows resting their wings on snow-covered camellia branches.