TOKYO: Visitors can step into the bustling world of early ukiyo-e at a new exhibition showcasing the works of pioneering artist Hishikawa Moronobu and the masters he inspired.
"Step Inside Moronobu's Genre Scenes of the Twelve Months: Masterpieces of Early Ukiyo-e" at the Seikado Bunko Art Museum in Chiyoda Ward looks back on the work of Hishikawa Moronobu (1618-1694) and artists influenced by him.
Speaking at a press event before the exhibition's opening in June, museum director Toshinobu Yasumura emphasised the importance of Edo during the Genroku period (1688-1704).
"The theme [for this exhibition] is an era known as the Genroku period. Kyoto was considered the place of culture at the time, but the culture was starting to move east, especially to Edo. However, in the early Edo period, the culture was still very much growing. One can see its growth as really getting its start in the Genroku period," he said.
Moronobu is perhaps best known for "Beauty Looking Back", and a replica of the iconic floral-patterned kimono from the painting is displayed at the centre of the museum.
The exhibition includes several paintings in a similar style featuring people dressed in fine clothing, both individually and in groups.
Visitors can easily become absorbed in the intricate details of the kimono in "Three Women Representing Snow, Moon and Flower" by Suzuki Kiitsu, particularly the garment decorated with butterflies and bamboo leaves partially veiled by mist.
Many of the paintings vividly portray lively scenes filled with activity, focusing on popular entertainment and capturing the vibrancy of the Genroku period.
The large figures allow visitors to appreciate details ranging from children throwing stones at one another to two men carrying a drunken friend home from a party, while others enjoy wisteria in full bloom.
Visitors can also spot fallen cherry blossoms and lichen growing on trees in some of the works.
Several folding screens are densely populated with figures enjoying everyday life.
"Scenes along the Riverside at Shijo, Kyoto" features a fascinating texture created by Moronobu through raised circular patches of paint outlining the clouds, giving them greater depth and clearer separation from the background.
The exhibition also features an elaborate performance scene with numerous dancers and musicians, similar to another screen, "Kabuki Theater". Kabuki was widely enjoyed during Moronobu's lifetime, and the painting reflects its popularity, with crowds gathering both inside and outside the theatre as performers prepare for the show.
"Cherry Blossom Viewing at Ueno and Pleasure Boats on the Sumida River" presents a pre-modern view of a park still familiar to Tokyo residents today. The outdoor performances may resonate especially with visitors who regularly pass through the area.
The centrepiece of the exhibition is an unsigned painting attributed to Moronobu titled "Genre Scenes of the Twelve Months".
Each month is represented through seasonal imagery rendered in exquisite colours.
Banners above the display case identify the months on display and provide explanatory information.
The display case is designed to exhibit six months at a time, with the remaining six replacing them halfway through the exhibition, encouraging visitors to return.
The scroll rewards careful viewing, with each pass revealing fresh details.
A pair of chicks blend so naturally into the background, particularly beside a brightly coloured chicken and rooster, that visitors may overlook them on first viewing.
Throughout the scroll, the direction of the figures' gazes subtly guides viewers from one month to the next, creating a seamless visual journey.
As one of the pioneers of ukiyo-e, Moronobu's works reveal stylistic elements and iconography that had yet to fully develop.
The mouths of many male figures are rendered with greater intricacy than the simplified style that later became common, although examples of the later style can also be found throughout the exhibition.
The intimate scale of the exhibition encourages visitors to take their time, examine the works closely and revisit them to discover additional details.
The exhibition runs until Aug. 23, with the artworks rotated midway through its run. Part One ends on July 26, while Part Two begins on July 28. - Japan News/ANN
