Hayami Gyoshu (1894～1935) lived and worked in Tokyo, and has left a significant mark on modern Japanese painting. His excellent works and honest, pursuing attitude toward artwork were revered by the painters of the time. Tanaka Isson (1894～1935), 14 years younger than Gyoshu, was one of those who respected Gyoshu.
Magnolia (Noble Flowers in Spring Garden) by Gyoshu and Ruddy Kingsfisher and White Flowers by Isson, both in the museum collection, are representative works of each artist. The two paintings magnificently depict the forms of nature, and show the artists striving for an extremely high level of painting, transcending differences in their period, environment, materials, and techniques.
To commemorate the 90th anniversary of Gyoshu's death in 2025, these two works will form the centerpiece of an exhibit featuring four works by Gyoshu and seven by Isson (two of Isson's are from a private collection, the others are from our museum collection). The exhibition also features works by Kano Hogai, Hashimoto Gaho, Tomioka Tessai, Ohashi Suiseki, Yokoyama Taikan, Shimomura Kanzan, Hishida Shunso, Kawai Gyokudo, Uemura Shoen, Kaburaki Kiyokata, Kobayashi Kokei, Maeda Seison, Okumura Togyu, Tsuchida Bakusen, Murakami Kagaku, Higashiyama Kaii, Kayama Matazo and others, exhibiting a total of approximately 50 gems of Japanese painting from the late 19th to the latter half of the 20th century.


Feature Exhibit　Enjoying the Colors of Japanese Ceramics

Japanese ceramics began with Jōmon pottery colored with red and black over 10,000 years ago, and have since been decorated in many colors, including white, blue, and green. These colors can only be achieved through a variety of conditions, including glazes and paints, the base material of stoneware or porcelain, firing temperature, and amount of air in the kiln.
This feature exhibit introduces about 25 pieces from the 2nd to 18th century, divided into four colors: red, white, blue, and green. Please enjoy these Japanese ceramics, whose characteristics differ depending on the era and place of their production, even when they are of the same color.