"Bigelow: The Phantom Collection and the Dawn of Modern Japanese Painting" Exhibition Held at Aichi Prefectural Museum of Art: Unraveling the History of Modern Japanese Painting through the Collector's Footsteps
The Aichi Prefectural Museum of Art hosts an exhibition on William Bigelow's phantom collection and the dawn of modern Japanese painting.Summary
The Aichi Prefectural Museum of Art in Nagoya is holding the exhibition "Bigelow: The Phantom Collection and the Dawn of Modern Japanese Painting—A Bostonian Fascinated by Japanese Art" from October 30 to December 13. Marking the 100th anniversary of the death of William Bigelow (1850–1926), who supported Meiji-era Japanese painting and built the foundation of the Japanese art collection at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, the exhibition explores his passion and contributions through works and materials from the former Bigelow Collection, including Hashimoto Gaho's "Autumn Landscape" (c. 1887). Focusing on the "phantom collection"—works that were auctioned in Japan in the early Showa period after being sent to America—it features Kitagawa Utamaro's "Oiran and Kamuro" (1789–1801, first half), Katsushika Hokusai's hand-painted ukiyo-e, and Maruyama-Shijo school paintings. It also traces Bigelow's footsteps as a patron who sympathized with Ernest Fenollosa (1853–1908) and supported artists, displaying Kano Hogai's Important Cultural Properties "Fudo Myoo" (1887, first half) and "Merciful Mother Kannon" (1888, December 1–13), and masterpieces by Hashimoto Gaho. Additionally, it highlights Maeda Kinko (c. 1841–1928), the only female painter of the Kanga-kai, and delves into Bigelow's spiritual side through materials from Onjo-ji Homyo-in, paintings donated by Fenollosa, and more, revealing his profound exchanges and faith.
(Source：美術手帖)