Exhibition Outlines

Our museum has introduced our collection from various viewpoints, basically in 4 special exhibitions a year, since its opening in November, 1993. This is our 50th exhibition, and we have selected superior works among nihonga paintings, sculptures, and craft works created during the Taisho to early Showa eras, which we had few chances to exhibit before.

During the Taisho to early Showa eras, new movements among the art world occurred, such as the many non-government art groups organized to establish independent venues to display their works. It was an era when each artist engrossed in creating artworks, groping for their own unique expressions, and a wide variety of works were created, flourishing with originality. Within this background, artists who were commissioned to create works according to Imperial order or gifts to the Imperial family to celebrate auspicious events, pursued new unique expressions and decorative beauty, while still conscious of tradition. Furthermore, the Imperial court purchased many of the works exhibited in various exhibitions, such as the government sponsored art exhibitions, in order to promote contemporary art. Among the works purchased, there are works that were highly appraised since they were first exhibited, and are now considered as masterpieces representative of each artist.

Through these works of the Taisho and early Showa periods among the Imperial collection, we hope our visitors can appreciate the attractive originality of each of the artists who were active in these eras.