Uemura Shōen and the Trajectory of Bijin-ga
Special Exhibition from October 11 2025 to January 18 2026
By Fukuda Art Museum
Fukuda Art Museum
A Long Night (1907) by Uemura ShōenOriginal Source: Fukuda Art Museum, Arashiyama, Kyoto, Japan
Uemura Shōen
This year marks 150 years since the birth of Uemura Shōen. This exhibition features highlights from our renowned bijinga collection, showcasing elegant works by Shōen and other artists, and tracing the evolution of modern bijinga. (Exhibition term: Oct. 11 2025 - Jun. 18, 2026)
Beauty and Cat by Utagawa Hiroshige
A cat plays at the hem of a woman’s kimono, referencing a scene from The Tale of Genji where a cat reveals the Third Princess, causing Kashiwagi to fall for her. The fan shows moon and cuckoos, symbols of early summer. Hiroshige adds a fresh seasonal touch to this elegant figure.
A Long Night by Uemura Shōen
The two share a close, sister-like bond during a long night. The young girl, wearing a long-sleeved kimono with apricot patterns, rests her chin while turning pages. The woman, in a dark yellow-green kimono with ivy motifs, tends the lamp gracefully, showing her maturity.
A Beauty Views the Moon by Uemura Shōen
Woman unhooks a mosquito net to view the moon. Shōen shows its presence not directly, but through her joyful expression and graceful posture. In a light summer kimono, she embodies the quiet beauty of a summer night.
Four Seasons of Woman by Uemura Shōen
Four women of different ages, each representing a season, appear together in one room—an imaginative scene inspired by traditional arts. The artist’s playful spirit shines through, as if dressing dolls, joyfully combining seasonal kimono, obi, and hairstyles.
On a Prayer Visit by Ikeda Shoen
In the right panel "On a Prayer", a girl under an umbrella expresses gratitude for growing up healthy. Adorned with ornate hairpieces and red lip color, she nervously steps out for her first pilgrimage after a sheltered life.
Spring Day by Ikeda Shoen
In the left panel "Spring Day", two sisters enjoy a quiet moment in a garden with fantail pigeons. The younger girl’s kimono is decorated with words like “wakaseko” and “furumai,” and a spider’s web motif, evoking a classical poem that foretells a lover’s return.
Edo Period Spring and Autumn Townhouse Ladies by Itō Shōha
The two beautiful women on the right, enjoying the blossoms of flowering cherries are two sisters dressed in kimonos with matching cherry flower crests. Older sister has casually tucked her kimono sleeve into her obi is ladylike. It’s a way to avoid soiling the sleeve.
Edo Period Spring and Autumn Townhouse Ladies by Itō Shōha
The left panels show a mother and daughter under falling autumn leaves. The mother’s faintly shaved eyebrows (blue eyebrows) signify marriage and childbirth, a Kyoto custom lasting into the 19th century. These warm scenes were painted by Shōha, mother of three daughters.
Fukuda Art Museum are proud to exhibit our excellent Bijinga collection this autumn 2025. Don't miss this special occation and admire the beauty of delicate Nihonga works as well as gorgeous colored leaves in Arashiyama, Kyoto!
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