EXHIBITION OVERVIEW

Art like a fine jewel, so refined, sweet and without a whit of vulgarity, is what I have always aspired for,” wrote Uemura Shoen (1875-1949), one of the premier nihonga painters of Japan’s early modern period in her essay, Seibisho. Celebrated for her bijinga, or “beautiful women” paintings, Uemura pursued the aesthetic ideal of womankind with uncompromising perspicuity. And her vision of women—one that melds bracing dignity with embracing warmth—remains as vivid as it is compelling to this day. Our exhibition, “The Pride of Modern Japanese Women Painters and Their Pedigree,” centers on works loaned to us from the Shouhaku Art Museum in Nara prefecture, as well as featuring works by Uemura’s two artistic progeny—her son, Shoko, and grandson, Atsushi.