A Centennial Memorial: Kuroda Seiki and the Pioneers of Modern Japanese Painting

This exhibition commemorates one-hundred years since the passing of Kuroda Seiki (1866–1924), widely regarded as the Father of Western-Style Painting in Japan. It showcases works by Kuroda and other pioneering painters who studied Western art in the late 1800s, a time when Japan was opening its doors to the world after more than two centuries of isolation. These painters incorporated foreign techniques into their work and introduced the concept of fine arts to Japan, overcoming many challenges to lay the foundation for modern Japanese art.

The exhibition also features materials from the Tokyo National Research Institute for Cultural Properties, established in 1930 as Japan’s first research institute for the arts. The founder, Yashiro Yukio (1890–1975), was also a pioneer who studied art history in the West to establish art historical research in Japan. Join us in following the footsteps of these pioneers of modern Japanese painting.