[Video Explanation] "Shunsui Sumitomo - The Serendipity of the Sumitomo Modern Art Collection" at Sumitomo Shunkokan Tokyo until October 12
A special exhibition at Sumitomo Shunkokan Tokyo commemorates the 100th anniversary of Shunsui Sumitomo's death by showcasing his modern art collection.Summary
This article details the special exhibition "Commemorating the 100th Anniversary of Death: Shunsui Sumitomo - The Serendipity of the Sumitomo Modern Art Collection," held at Sumitomo Shunkokan Tokyo from August 29 to October 12, 2026. The exhibition honors Shunsui Sumitomo (1864-1926), the 15th head of the Sumitomo family and founder of the modern Sumitomo Group, by displaying modern artworks he collected during the Meiji and Taisho eras. Key highlights include two Claude Monet paintings acquired during Shunsui's 1897 trip to the West, which were crucial references for young Japanese painters of the time. Other featured works are oil paintings from the Japanese art exhibitions (Bunten) by artists like Shintaro Yamashita and Kippo Ebijima, as well as a custom-commissioned oil-screen painting by Kouta Kouda for the family's new residence. The exhibition reveals how Shunsui's collection was driven by a blend of his personal aesthetic pursuit and his desire for the family's prestige, a fact clarified by historical newspaper records confirming his unrealized dream of building an art museum in Osaka. Organized chronologically, the display traces his collection's trajectory and his interactions with contemporary artists, offering insight into his unique vision for Japanese modern art.
(Source：美術展ナビ)