Masterpieces of 130 Years of Modern Japanese Art in the Collection of the National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo
Summary
In connection with the "MOMAT Collection" exhibition at the National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo (MOMAT), five masterpieces representing 130 years of modern Japanese art are introduced with commentary by Deputy Director Shogo Otani. The featured works are: Wada Sanzo's "South Wind" (1907), reflecting Japan's elation after the Russo-Japanese War; Harada Naojiro's "Kannon on a Dragon" (1890), blending Western oil techniques with Japanese religious subject matter; Takamura Kotaro's "Hand" (c. 1918), bridging Western and Eastern sculptural expression; Kayama Matazo's "Waves in Spring and Autumn" (1966), reinterpreting tradition as contemporary art; and Kaburaki Kiyokata's triptych "Shintomicho," "Tsukiji Akashicho," and "Hamacho Kishin" (1927–1930), bijin-ga reflecting the lost atmosphere of Edo. The article notes that MOMAT, with approximately 14,000 works, serves as the "head temple" of modern Japanese art, conveying how artists engaged with their times and society, and is also promoting the reevaluation of overlooked expressions, including those of female artists.
(Source:婦人画報デジタル)