Month: June 2019

The National Museum of Western Art

At the National Museum of Western Art in Ueno, Tokyo, from June 18 (Tuesday) to September 23 (Mon.), 2019 2019, “100 years of diplomatic relations between Japan and Finland. Houses are held.

Since the press preview of the exhibition was held, we will deliver the report this time.

What is the Modern Woman Exhibition?

The Modern Women's Exhibition focuses on the seven female artists who lived in Finland before and after independence, which commemorates the 100th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Finland, and brought major innovations in the country's modern art. It is the first exhibition in Japan.

About 90 works are exhibited, including paintings, sculptures, drawings and prints.
The works of Helen Shalfbeck, who has recently been attracting worldwide attention, and the works of five painters who were active from the late 19th century to the early 20th century, and the works of two sculptors who studied with Auguste Rodin in Paris .

The history of female artists in Finland

(Photo) Helen Scharfbeck

Finland from the late 19th century to the early 20th century.
During this period Finland changed the position and role of women in society to keep pace with the independence movement from Russia and the formation of a new nation born in 1917.

The first art school in Finland, which was founded in the middle of the 19th century, had a rare education policy in Europe at the time of its founding that it recommended gender-equal art education. As a result, women in this era were able to open up their career as an artist while earning research in an international environment with the support of study abroad opportunities and scholarships.

Introduction of exhibited works

Maria Vik <at the church>
1884 oil on canvas, 56.0 x 46.5 cm

A girl who prays with a straight line of sight.
It looks like I'm going to turn my eyes on my pure eyes without hesitation.

Helen Schallbeck <Fortune teller (yellow dress woman)>
1926 oil on canvas, 65.5 x 51.0 cm

It is a work that is characterized by pale color overall.
The fortune teller in the yellow dress is called Rin.

Ellen Tesslev <Finnish Spring>
1942 oil on canvas, 70.0 x 54.5 cm

The image of the girl who felt uplifted by the arrival of spring is colorfully depicted.

(Right)
Seagrid Shoman <Self Portrait>
No annual oil, canvas 41.0 × 32.5 cm

(Left)
Seagrid Shoman <Elisabetz Volf>
1940 oil on canvas, 42.0 x 33.5 cm

These works seem to be portraits that can not be clearly identified.
It is strange that as you admire it, you will feel as if a rich expression comes to the surface.

(Right)
Erga Seseman <street>
1945 oil on canvas, 73.5 x 54.0 cm

(Left)
Elga Seseman <at the cafe>
1945 oil, cardboard 73.0 × 49.5 cm

The work on the right depicts the landscape of a devastated street.
It's a bit loneliness, but it reminds me of a movie scene with the back of a person walking on the right.

In contrast, the work on the left.
Women who are dressed in new fashion have a determination to survive the new era of Finland.

Seagrid Ahu Folssels <youth>
1880s Bronze 42.0 × 43.0 × 26.0 cm

A nice-looking woman.
The expression full of hope does not make us feel any fear of the future.

Summary

Finnish female artists who have developed their career while opening up the position and role of women in society. From their work, you can feel not only Finnish culture but also the foundation of gender equality and women's social advancement. The venue was full of the enthusiasm of those who stared into the works of such artists.

Would you like to come to this exhibition and experience the heat by yourself?

Outline of the event

Exhibition name	Japan-Finland Diplomatic Relations 100th Anniversary Modern Woman-Female Artists Coloring Finnish Art
Session	June 18 (Tuesday)-September 23 (Mon.), 2019 9:30-17:30 (30 minutes before closing) (However, open on Fridays and Saturdays until 21:00)
closing day	Closed Monday and July 16 (Tuesday). ※ Opened on July 15 (Mon., Holiday), August 12 (Mon., Closed), September 16 (Mon., Holiday), September 23 (Mon., Holiday).
Venue	The National Museum of Western Art(Ueno Park)
Fee for viewing	General 500 yen (400 yen), university student 250 yen (200 yen) ※ Under high school students and under 18 years old, 65 years old or later free of charge (please show the student ID or the one that can confirm the age when entering the library). ※ () is group rate of 20 or more ※ The disabled person and one carer are free. It is necessary to present handicapped person's certificate etc. at the time of admission. This exhibition and the permanent exhibition are free to view on Fridays and Saturdays at night (17:00 – 21:00) and on the second and fourth Saturdays every month. * You can see this exhibition with the same exhibition viewing ticket only on the day of the "National Western Art Museum 60th Anniversary Matsukata Collection Exhibition" (June 11-September 23) Viewing.
Official site	https://www.nmwa.go.jp/en/exhibitions/2019modernwoman.html

Article Provided by：Kokosil Ueno

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The National Museum of Western Art

The National Museum of Western Art, Ueno, Tokyo, from June 11, 2019 (Tuesday) to September 23, Mon.
"The 60th Anniversary Matsukata Collection Exhibition of the National Museum of Western Art"
Is being held.

Since the press preview of the exhibition was held, we will deliver the report this time.

What is the Matsukata Collection?

Kojiro Matsukata (1866-1950), the businessman who laid the foundation for the collection of the National Museum of Western Art.
Matsukata, who led the Kawasaki Shipyard (now Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd.) in Kobe, expanded a large number of works of art in London and Paris around 1916-1927, expanding business against the backdrop of ship demand from World War I. I was buying it. Collection items at that time were about 3,000 pieces from Monet, Gogan, Gogh's paintings, modern works such as Rodin's sculptures, medieval board drawings and tapestry.

"I want to make an art museum for Japanese people"

The works collected from such thoughts are the Matsukata collection.

This exhibition traces the process of formation and dissipation of the Matsukata Collection and the establishment of the National Museum of Western Art with about 160 valuable works of art and historical materials. The ten chapters from prologue to epilogue will convey to us the thoughts of Matsukata, who bet life for collection.

Highlights of the Matsukata Collection

The highlights of this exhibition are roughly divided into three.

The first one is the display of a collection of masterpieces of the former Matsukata, which has been scattered around the world, including Vincent van Gogh's Bedroom in Arles (1889).

The second is that Matsukata purchased directly in the atelier in Monet, and for the first time it will be unveiled after rehabilitating the long-lived masterpiece, “The reflection of water lily and willow” (1916).

The third is that when the Matsukata Collection was kept in the old chapel of the Rodin Museum, 16 of the 365 glass plates photographed by the French photographer Pierre Schmoff were unveiled as historical material It is

"Water lily, reflection of willow" work hard work restoration and future prospects

Among the three highlights, the most eye-catching piece is Claude Monet's Water Lilies and Willow Reflections .
This is a very large-scale work that uses a decorative technique that is reminiscent of a Japanese maple picture, showing that a willow tree is reflected upside down on the water surface of a water lily pond. It is rare that the work before repair is so damaged.

Naomi Kashiwagi, a researcher at the National Museum of Western Art, said, "While during the World War II, fleeing the search for the Nazis and evacuating the works to the farmers, they were placed upside down and stored upside down. It was guessed "?"

In the case of this work, originally it took three to four years to repair, but because the restoration period is as short as one year, it is said that the restoration is limited to the minimum. It is heavy because it is a very large work, and just turning over the work required a large number of seven people and it was hard work.

In addition, Mr. Tochigi concluded that "I would like to work on repairing Monet works in the long run while comparing and examining other Monet's water lily series in the future" .

Introduction of exhibited works

Vincent van Gogh < rose>

1889 oil on canvas, 33 x 41.3 cm National Museum of Western Art, Tokyo

A work in which Gogh, who suffered from mental illness, drew nearby roses while hospitalized at the Saint-Remy Psychiatric Hospital. Vibrant, lively roses are drawn with intense brush strokes.

Not only the texture of the rose, but also the smell seems to be felt.

Camille Pissarro < harvest>

1882 Glossy Tempera, Canvas 70.3 × 126 cm National Museum of Western Art, Tokyo (Konjiro Matsukata, donated by the bereaved family)

This work is a work that became a milestone of Pissarro, which challenged the material of glue tempera and shifted from a traditional landscape painter to a portrait painter. People who have only been drawn as companions will now be drawn on the front. You will be fascinated by the spacious countryside, where you can see the houses beyond.

I can hear the texture of the wheat flowing by the wind and the breath of people who work.

Edvard Munch < workers in the snow>

1910 oil on canvas, 223.5 x 162 cm private collection, Tokyo (deposited at the National Museum of Western Art)

It is a painting drawn by the late-year Munch. Workers working in harsh conditions under deep snow. Three men who carry scoops on their shoulders and stabs in the snow on their fronts, and who look at this with a proud look. Behind them, people who work silently are vividly depicted.

There is no darkness in each figure, but rather, even brightness can be felt.

Charles-François Daubigny < Villareville coast, sunset>

1870 oil on canvas 100 × 197 cm Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, Tokyo

The work of the late-year work of the landscape painter Barbison.

The sound of the waves flowing quietly in the big ocean and the sunset sky. The scenery and the figures of the people walking on the beach are impressive. People can only look small, but what kind of expression is it? Do you have a bright face after work?

I can stir my imagination.

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The Matsukata collection, which has been lost due to the Great Kanto Earthquake and the Showa Financial Crisis, and has been pursuing a strange fate.
The captions of the exhibitions in this exhibition carefully describe when and where the works were purchased, and are designed so that you can know the history of the transition.

Matsujiro Kojiro's dream of "I want to create an art museum for Japan" that has come to fruition after decades of age.
Why don't you come to the venue and try to touch one end of that feeling?

Outline of the event

Exhibition name	Matsukata Collection Exhibition commemorating the 60th anniversary of the National Museum of Western Art
Session	June 11 (Tuesday)-September 23 (Mon.), 2019 9:30-17:30 (30 minutes before closing) (However, open on Fridays and Saturdays until 21:00)
closing day	Closed Monday and July 16 (Tuesday). ※ Opened on July 15 (Mon., Holiday), August 12 (Mon., Closed), September 16 (Mon., Holiday), September 23 (Mon., Holiday).
Venue	National Museum of Western Art (Ueno Park)
Fee for viewing	General 1600 yen (1400 yen), university student 1200 yen (1000 yen), high school student 800 yen (600 yen) ※ free for junior high school students ※ () is group rate of 20 or more ※ The disabled person and one carer are free. It is necessary to present handicapped person's certificate etc. at the time of admission.
Official site	https://artexhibition.jp/matsukata2019/outline-en/

Article Provided by：Kokosil Ueno

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