"The Best of the Yamatane Collection I" Opening Report: Tracing the Origins of the Yamatane Museum of Art's 60 Years
The Yamatane Museum of Art's 60th anniversary exhibition opens, featuring masterpieces of modern Japanese painting by artists such as Yokoyama Taikan, Takeuchi Seiho, Uemura Shoen, and Hayami Gyoshu.Summary
The exhibition "The Best of the Yamatane Collection I: From Yokoyama Taikan and Takeuchi Seiho to Uemura Shoen and Hayami Gyoshu" has opened at the Yamatane Museum of Art in Hiroo, Tokyo, and will run until December 6. The museum, which opened in 1966, celebrates its 60th anniversary this year. This exhibition is the third in a series of special commemorative exhibitions, presenting carefully selected masterpieces of modern Japanese painting that form the core of the collection, drawn from approximately 1,800 works including six Important Cultural Properties. It is said to be the first time in 10 years that the museum has shown such a concentrated display of works by leading modern Japanese painters. To appreciate this exhibition, it is essential to understand the origins of the Yamatane Collection. Its foundation was laid by Yamazaki Taneji (1893–1983), founder of Yamatane Securities (now SMBC Nikko Securities). For Taneji, who was immersed in the world of financial markets, viewing paintings was "a supreme pleasure." He eventually began purchasing works himself, especially collecting works by contemporary Japanese painters whose authenticity was certain. A distinctive feature is that Taneji was not merely a collector who bought works through the art market. Based on his belief that "the value of a painting depends greatly on the character of the artist," he deepened friendships with artists such as Yokoyama Taikan, Uemura Shoen, Kobayashi Kokei, Yasuda Yukihiko, and Yamaguchi Hoshun while collecting their works. It can be said that the formation of the museum's current collection based on his personal collection is a major characteristic of the Yamatane Museum of Art.
(Source：美術手帖)