Summer 2009 Exhibition
Mihata Jōryō (fl. 1830-44)
"Young Woman and Boy"
Mid 19th century
Ink and colors on silk
Japanese Beauties:
Glamorous, Decadent, Sensuous, and Bizarre
May 24 – August 1, 2009
The representation of beautiful women has been a principal subject in the arts. In Western art, paintings of women follow traditionally one of two types; one being portraits of individuals such as Leonardo da Vinci’s (1452-1519) portrait of Lisa Gherardini, better known as 'Mona Lisa,' and others representing legendary beauties such as Venus or the Greek Helen of Troy.
The Japanese beauties in woodblook prints from the Edo period (1600-1868) known as ukiyo-e, pictures of the 'floating world,' are internationally well-known. In the summer exhibition "Japanese Beauties: Glamorous, Decadent, Sensuous, and Bizarre," the Clark Center for Japanese Art and Culture presents its collection of Kyoto beauties. Paintings of Kyoto beauties are rarely featured in collections outside of Japan which usually focus on Edo (present-day Tokyo) beauties by ukiyo-e artists like Kitagawa Utamaro (1753-1806) or Torii Kiyonaga (1752-1815). While courtesans of Edo’s Yoshiwara pleasure district became popular because of the mass-produced woodblock prints, Kyoto was regarded as the best place to find the beautiful, graceful, and warm-hearted ladies from ancient times. The elegance of Kyoto beauties was a favored painting subject, and many Kyoto artists portrayed beauties exclusively for their affluent patrons. Contrary to idealized and epitomized beauties created by Edo ukiyo-e artists, Kyoto painters, under the influence of Maruyama Ōkyo’s (1733-1795) lyrical realism, depicted women in a less flattering and more realistic perspective. Kyoto-style beauties often expressed individual traits that inspired the artists and the results are sometimes aesthetically unattractive, or even shocking.
Kawanabe Kyōsai (1831-1889)
"Seven Otafuku"
Late 19th century
Ink and colors on silk
Tsukioka Yoshitoshi (1839-1892)
"Ghost of Okiku"
Late 19th century
Ink and colors on silk
Faithful depictions of Kyoto women with heavy makeup, even to the point of grotesqueness, are typical for the Kyoto artists Gion Seitoku (1781-1829) and Mihata Jōryō (act. c.1830-43) who are featured in this exhibition. These paintings of flamboyant beauties are then followed by other female representations, from seductive beauties in illusory exchanges of sacred and secular motifs, funny face 'Otafuku' (a woman with a round, flat face) symbolizing the traditional ideal beauty, to deceased beauties portrayed as 'ghosts.' Works by the renowned artists Tsukioka Yoshitoshi (1839-1892) and Kawanabe Kyōsai (1831-1889) present some humorous and bizarre aspects of women in this exhibition.
Ranging from the nineteenth to the early twentieth century, the exhibition of almost thirty hanging scrolls, hand scrolls, and screens, will be on display from May 23 through August 1, 2009. All works are illustrated in the accompanying catalog that can be purchased in the museum store.
Curated by Keiko Tanaka, PhD, Curatorial Assistant
Gallery hours: Tuesday through Saturday 1 – 5 pm. Closed on national holidays and during the month of August.
Admission: $5 for adults, $3 for students with valid ID. Children 12 and under free.
Weekly docent tours are held Saturdays at 1 pm and guided group tours can be arranged by calling the Center in advance at (559) 582-4915.