This exhibition introduces Japan's representative western-style painter in the Meiji Period, TAKAHASHI Yuichi, who is best known for his Salmon and Courtesan paintings (both Important Cultural Property).

Yuichi became known as a painter, after he cut his Chonmage (samurai topknot) and assumed the name "Yuichi" after the Meiji Restoration. By the time, Yuichi was already past the age of 40. Not simply taking up painting because he liked pictures, Yuichi felt a strong sense of personal responsibility, believing that it was his mission to make western-style painting wide spread in Japan. He opened a painting school, organized exhibitions and displayed his new works. He published art magazines, and even envisioned the creation of a unique museum. He appealed to the world around him, desperately attempting to convey his belief that western-style painting was essential for Japan. Although Yuichi did not study abroad, the oil paintings he made without knowing the real western-style draw a line between paintings created by people who'd learnt it in abroad, such as KURODA Seiki, and his own "Japanese style oil painting."

This exhibition will introduce Yuichi's works from early to the end including the most notable works. Showing works of UTAGAWA Hiroshige and SHIBA Kokan that became his image sources, and documents called "Yuichi's Historical Record," we will investigates attraction of "Pioneer of Modern Yoga," TAKAHASHI Yuichi.

*Artwork (Left) : 'Salmon' (1877), Tokyo University of Arts