Gifu Museum of Fine Arts Masterpiece Selection, Redon's Black, Seison and Fujita's White, a Stunning Collaboration of Moreau and Redon, Shukichi and Fauvism, Cisco Takimoto
RedonI visited the Gifu Museum of Fine Arts to meet.
Redon is famous in Japan for his monsters in prints, which in his later years also share an impression with Goya's "Black Paintings" at the Prado, but at the Musée d'Orsay, his colorful, Buddhist, and Zen-like meditative paintings are impressive, and you can see many beautiful large-scale works.
What kind of paintings by Redon will I encounter this time?
Heading to Exhibition Room 1ab💓
The departure is near♪ Heart pounding.
…All the works were wonderful, and although my original purpose was to go see Redon, I was overjoyed that Moreau's "Pieta" and Fujita's "Dream" also welcomed me. Every piece was a gem, and I was moved to tears; by the end, the works looked blurry through my eyes.
The masterpieces were in just two connected rooms on one floor, and while the number of items was small, I realized two hours had passed.
The paintings by Grandma Cisco were also very good.
Photography was basically prohibited, so I am savoring the memories with the catalog I purchased. The full list is here. (Excluding Mr. Cisco)
Well then, Bonne visite♪
Gifu Museum of Fine Arts Collection Masterpiece Selection
1957, Maeda Seison, "La Princesse"
Portrait of Princess Takamatsu. Regarding the production intent, he said, "I wanted to capture the gorgeous and elegant style and atmosphere of the Princess in her evening dress. I also felt motivated to capture the fine texture of the hair of the rose-colored robe décolleté and the overlapping lines of the modernly waved hair using the techniques of Japanese painting." The composition of the profile and the texture of the costume are worth seeing.
1925, Tsuguharu Foujita, "Dream"
In 1925, he produced several oil paintings on the theme of dreams, such as "Reclining Nude (Dream)," and this work is one of them.
1947, Shinsui Ito, "Mirror"
Thanks to the precise line work that follows the tradition of ukiyo-e, the volume of the kimono and body, along with the delicate gestures of the fingertips, create a sense of tension. Furthermore, the expanse of paint applied evenly to the background creates a space with a sense of transparency.
1958, Eizo Kato, "Sky"
The scene of seagulls dancing in the sky I looked up at comes at me with a sense of realism and impact. By adopting subtle tones of pink and light blue for the sky and arranging the seagulls around them, he succeeded in giving the painting infinite breadth and depth. It is said that this innovative composition was inspired by the time he lay on his back on the rocks of Oozashi Coast in Miyagi Prefecture and was moved by the black-tailed gulls dancing right before his eyes. This was an entry for the 1st Shin-Nitten exhibition and won the Japan Art Academy Prize in the same year.
1969, Toichi Kato, "White Night"
This landscape painting, expressed in poetic colors and forms, was the style for which this artist was known at the time. A few years after this work was painted, his style would change significantly following the tragic death of his older brother, Eizo. However, even here, there is already the artist's sure eye, gazing intently at human existence through the act of painting.
1956, Morikazu Kumagai, 'Returning from the Crematorium'
A masterpiece by Morikazu Kumagai, based on the death of his eldest daughter, Man, in 1947. The elderly figure on the right is Kumagai himself, the center is his eldest son, and the left is his second daughter. The three walk while maintaining a distance. Their expressions are not drawn, leaving their emotions to the viewer's imagination.
Since Morikazu Kumagai seems to be categorized under Fauvism, my feeling of Rouault does not seem to be off the mark.
At MAM, Georges Rouault
'Crépuscule' (Twilight). This was the work I liked the most during my first visit to MAM.
Fauvisme, the Wild Beasts
Characterized by the systematization of simplified forms defined by clear outlines and the exploration of bold colors.
The expression using simplified coloring and clear outlines was also called the 'Morikazu Style'.
1979, Rokuro Yabashi, 'Mykonos Sunset'
It reminded me exactly of this moment.
Rokuro Yabashi, a Western-style painter associated with Ogaki City. In figurative subjects such as people and landscapes, he pursued modernism through color contrast and division.
1998, Shinpei Sakakura, 'Origin of Blue-1'
Shinpei Sakakura was based in Paris from 1963 to 1981, where he developed his artistic practice. In 1968, while on the Greek island of Patmos, he received a revelation from the Aegean landscape filled with bright light, leading him to single-mindedly pursue the sublime, the sacred, the pure, and the transcendent with light as his theme. After returning to Japan, he continued to paint works inspired by cityscapes along the Mediterranean coast. Among the series that followed, 'Inner Light' and 'Source of Light,' this work belongs to the latter. He expresses the brilliance of the sky, sea, and light of the Mediterranean world through layers of blue.
1854, Gustave Moreau, 'Pietà'
At first, I thought it was Ingres. The background looks like Da Vinci, and I understand this to be a period of imitation where he was still struggling to find his way from the Renaissance and Classicism. It is because of this work that I was moved to tears. While many of his works are overly detailed or unfinished, this one has a well-balanced use of negative space. Furthermore, while many of his imitative works at the Musée Gustave Moreau are small, this one is quite large, making it an incredibly luxurious piece. I envy the people of Gifu for being able to see such a work since childhood...
A rare early work by Moreau. An oil painting exhibited at the official salon in Ghent, Belgium.
いよいよ、ルドン
Odilon Redon （1840-1916）My favorite works by Redon
1896, 'Mystical Dialogue'
It was very difficult to tear myself away from this one. It is a masterpiece that would put even the Musée d'Orsay to shame.
I also bought a postcard.
1898, 'Closed Eyes'
c. 1905-10, 'Flowers'
I remember being told that a flower painting I drew in the fifth grade looked like a Redon, but the composition is completely different. I take my hat off to his ideas, which are simply beyond the reach of ordinary people.
c. 1906 "The Window"
c. 1906-07 "Apollo's Chariot"
It is inspired by Delacroix's "Apollo Vanquishing the Serpent Python," painted on the ceiling of the Louvre Museum. Redon superimposed his own spiritual transformation—overcoming the anguish and anxiety of his "Black Period" and discovering the joy of color in his later years—as this "blissful joy that follows suffering."
Apollo is also the god of art. His figure, driving four fierce horses across the sky, symbolizes the artist's ability to control inner creative power and pursue ideals.
Louvre Official
Redon and Goya's Black Paintings
ルドンは黒の時代から色彩の時代へIn particular, triggered by changes in his personal life around the age of 50 (such as the birth of his second son), he began to paint meditative, light-filled works featuring Buddhas and flowers. I understand Redon's black as an early exploration of his inner self and an expression of fantasy, which later transitioned into the colors of hope and fulfillment.
On the other hand, Goya's Black Paintings are a series of works symbolizing the despair and social criticism of his later years, and they left me feeling quite dark at the Prado.
The Interaction between Redon, Moreau, and Rouault
モロー（1826-1898）とルドン（1840-1916）They were contemporaries as the two pillars of French Symbolism.
Personal interaction: Redon admired Moreau's paintings and they actually had personal interactions and were acquainted. They were active in the same artistic circles and had many points of contact through Symbolist poets and writers (such as Huysmans).
モローとルオーAs I mentioned in the Panabi article, Moreau and Rouault had a teacher-student relationship at the École des Beaux-Arts. He respected him deeply, not just as a teacher, but as a spiritual father.
ルドンとルオーAlthough there are few records of a direct teacher-student relationship or close interaction between Redon and Rouault, they had an indirect connection through Moreau.
塔本シス子の花鳥苑でのお気に入り作品たちCisco Tawaramoto "Sakurajima"
I felt an incredible amount of power.
1987 "Cherry Blossoms at the Mint"
Le Rêve
1992 "Spring at Yamada Pond"
1999 "Spring at Yamada Pond: Cisco and Pigeons"
I wanted to visit Yamada Pond, but it doesn't show up on Google Maps... I wonder if I'll understand once I go to Kumamoto.
1996 "Cosmos Field in Front of Hirakata General Gymnasium"
2001 "Cloud Bird 1"
At first, I didn't think I liked this painting style, but after seeing the inscribed text on the back, sides, and corners of the canvases, I became interested in how pure and adorable this person was. I think it would be better to exhibit them
so that the back can be viewed at the same time. ↓This person gets it. You can see part of the painting and the text on the back here↓
Cisco's Backside Museum
作家の名前についてI didn't know her real name was Cisco, from San Francisco; that's so cool✨.
そろそろ、お別れ
Giacomo MANZU (1908-1991)
Grande cardinale
Related articles
Side stories
After that, I also stopped by the Menard Art Museum, but it's a secret that I finished viewing it in 15 minutes and left because the Gifu Museum of Fine Arts was just too good. It was a bit because the Gifu Museum was too amazing. My trip to Gifu also had the purpose of stopping by the Shunga Museum.
Looking through the Gifu Museum's catalog, there are still many things I want to see, so it is a museum I would like to revisit someday.
These are what I want to see.
A work from about 20 years after Pieta.
What I liked most at the Aichi Prefectural Museum of Art was his 'Ohara Jakko (Kenreimon-in)'!
I would like to see this in person as well.
This, it's a pity there's no image...
