From Kuroda to Foujita Japanese painters in Paris at MCJP until Saturday, January 26, 2008

During the Meiji era (1868-1912), Japan renovation began. Artists are beginning to become familiar with new technologies, including oil painting. Drifting away from the pictorial tradition of the archipelago, these "Western-style" painters therefore increasingly traveled to Europe, particularly Paris, frantically studying modern painting. They'll play a crucial role in the modernization of Japanese art. This exhibition covers half a century of Western-style painting (yôga) in Japan. More than 50 paintings are presented, masterpieces by a dozen artists who stayed in Paris. A rare opportunity to discover these painters who still enjoy a huge reputation in Japan but are rather unknown in France, with the exception of Foujita.

The exhibition consists of four sections :

The meeting between Raphael Collin and Seiki Kuroda

On his first visit to France from 1884 to 1893, Kuroda Seiki studied oil painting with the academic painter Raphael Collin. This meeting has been crucial for the development of yôga painting in Japan. Displayed side by side, the works of both artists stress the considerable influence of the french painter on Kuroda. Upon his return to Japan, Kuroda took over as head of the department of Western painting at the Fine Art Academy in Tokyo. It allowed him to introduce not only the pictorial techniques of the Western academic, but also the enlighted style of naturalism represented by the Impressionists.

Japanese painters at the 1900's Paris Universal Exhibition

Over a century ago, Seiki Kuroda, Chû Asai, Eisaku Wada and Takeji Fujishima works were already shown in Paris, on the occasion of the 1900's Paris Universal Exhibition. The exhibition was a shock to these Japanese artists. Some of them took this opportunity to settle in France and create. Changes occurred then gradually in their styles: Kuroda looked toward Impressionism; his pupil Wada refined his academic style; Fujishima claimed an oriental aesthetic sense ; Asai for its part, shifted away from oil and headed towards decorative arts.

Yasui and Umehara, two painters from Kyôto

In the early twentieth century, Sôtarô Yasui and Ryûzaburô Umehara completed their painting training in Paris. Both were from Kyoto, a city steeped in ancient traditions. Amazed by the works of Renoir, Umehara embarked on a brightly colored style, in search of a daring originality. Yasui gradually mastered the technics of drawing, influenced by Pissarro then Cezanne. Together they'd create a purely Japanese occidentalized painting style.

Foujita and the Japanese painters in Paris during the interwar

Since 1918, the Japanese flocked again in France. Among them, five painters presented in this section are enthusiastic about their stay in the capital, tossed up in the whirlwind of avant-garde movements: Fauvism, Cubism, Surrealism ... The best known is Tsuguharu Foujita (Leonard), emblematic of the Ecole de Paris. Vlaminck having strongly criticized his academic style, Yûzô Saeki moved towards representations of the slums of Paris. Hanjirô Sakamoto prefered to paint a landscape whose great modernity reveals a very personal style. Abandoning the academic style, Zenzaburô Kojima invented in the 20's a daring decorative style, "the merger between Western subject and Oriental spirit." Taro Okamoto marvels at the work of Picasso, joined the Abstraction - Création group before joining the surrealists. Upon their return they will have to face a problem peculiar to Japanese painters: translating Japanese identity to Western style.

From Kuroda to Foujita - Japanese painters in Paris
From Wednesday, October 24, 2007 to Saturday, January 26, 2008

Maison de la culture du Japon à Paris
www.mcjp.asso.fr
101 bis, quai Branly 75740 Paris Cedex 15
Tel: 01 44 37 95 00
Fax : 01 44 37 95 15

Tuesday to Saturday from 12 to 19 pm / Nocturne Thursday to 20h Closed holidays / Annual closure of Dec. 23 to Jan. 3
Admission 6 € / Reduced 4 € / Free for members MCJP, children under the age of 12
Tour group (20 people maximum) by reservation only (with or without Speaker)

Organization National University of Fine Arts and Music in Tokyo, Maison de la culture of Japan in Paris (Foundation of Japan), Association for the MCJP
With the assistance of The Society for International Cultural Exchange
With the support of Japan Airlines

N.B. During the exhibition at De Kuroda Foujita, you can go see the murals that adorn the House of the Japan International City University by Foujita, exceptionally open to the public. Horses and The arrival of Westerners in Japan, Heads - work done by Foujita in 1929, it was recently restored

House of Japan - International City University of Paris
From Oct. 24 to Jan. 26, Thursdays and Fridays from 14 to 18h
Closed on 27, 28 December 2007-3, January 4, 2008
Free entrance

Maison du Japon - Cité internationale universitaire de Paris
7c, bd Jourdan 75014 Paris
Du 24 octobre au 26 janvier, les jeudis et vendredis de 14h à 18h
Fermé les 27, 28 décembre 2007 - 3, 4 janvier 2008
Entrée libre