Permanent exhibition
Enjoy Impressionism
Art painting weaving "Sunflower"
What is Impressionism?
Impressionism is said to have originated with an exhibition held in 1874 by 30 members including Monet, Renoir, Cézanne, and Degas. Building upon the earlier Realism, it particularly emphasized outdoor painting, depicting landscapes and objects enveloped in light and air with bright colors.
The most distinctive feature of Impressionism is its depiction of light. In an era when depicting "worlds never seen before," such as myths and religious paintings, was considered noble, Impressionism focused on "depicting the world as one saw it."
The works of Impressionism are easily accepted by Japanese people, and exhibitions of Impressionism are always well-attended, partly because Impressionist painters actively incorporated Japonism. Furthermore, unlike the mythological and religious paintings of the past, Impressionism often featured genre paintings and landscapes that were familiar to Japanese people, which also seems to have contributed to its popularity.
The light characteristic of Impressionism is delicately and gracefully woven into the fabric, down to the paint-like touches, using a variety of weaving techniques. Please enjoy the magnificent harmony created by Nishijin-ori Asagi and the masterpieces of great artists.
Introduction of works
Art painting weaving "Sunflower"
Van Gogh created a vast body of work, but his sunflowers are among his most globally renowned masterpieces. During his time in Arles, southern France, Van Gogh painted seven versions of sunflowers in vases, and this weaving project is based on the fourth version, which is now housed in the National Gallery in London.
The bold use of color (particularly the bright yellow) and powerful, intense brushstrokes are highlighted, and expressed using various Nishijin weaving techniques. Get closer and feel Van Gogh's presence.
Vincent van Gogh (1853–1890)
He was a Dutch painter of the late Impressionist period who greatly influenced avant-garde artists in the early 20th century. Although he is known for producing a large number of works, he was never a successful artist, and it is said that he only sold one piece during his lifetime.
Van Gogh was the painter most influenced by Japonism within the Impressionist movement, and his work is characterized by bright colors and bold compositions. He also left behind works that are copies of Utagawa Hiroshige's ukiyo-e prints.
Art painting weaving "Water Lily Pond"
The "Water Lilies" series is a collection of paintings of the same landscape multiple times, changing the time of day and viewpoint, in order to capture the ever-changing colors and light of nature.
Monet's house in Giverny, a suburb of Paris, has a bridge that is said to have been modeled after a Japanese taiko bridge, and this weaving project is based on a painting of it now housed in the National Gallery in London.
This piece expresses Monet's constant pursuit of "impressions of ever-changing light and atmosphere" through various Nishijin weaving techniques.
Claude Monet (1840–1926)
He was the founder of Impressionism in France. He continuously pursued the ever-changing colors and hues of nature, reflecting the passage of time and the changing seasons. He was the longest-lived of the Impressionist painters, and even into the 20th century, he left behind many works, including his "Water Lilies" series.
He was also one of the painters influenced by Japonism, and his works include "La Japonaise," which features his wife in a Japanese kimono, and his mansion in Giverny, a suburb of Paris, houses a collection of Japanese ukiyo-e prints by artists such as Katsushika Hokusai and Utagawa Hiroshige.
Art painting weaving "The Dance at Bougival"
This masterpiece depicts men and women dancing in Bougival along the Seine River in Paris, and is one of a trilogy published in the same year as "Country Dance" and "City Dance." The gestures and expressions of the figures are vividly and clearly depicted, creating a painting filled with a sense of happiness.
Impressionism's signature bright and soft touch, imbued with a sense of light, is vividly woven using various Nishijin weaving techniques.
Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841–1919)
A French Impressionist painter. Born and raised in Limoges, France, Renoir became a porcelain painter at the age of 13 and later became a leading figure in the development of Impressionism.
While Monet specialized in depicting nature, Renoir excelled at painting people, and his works are particularly characterized by their pursuit of female beauty.
Art painting weaving "The Kiss"
This is Klimt's most famous work and a representative example of Viennese Art Nouveau. It is housed in the Austrian Gallery at the Belvedere Palace. Despite depicting the subject of a kiss, which was considered taboo at the time, it became a huge hit and was purchased by the government.
This work is said to have been strongly influenced by Ogata Korin's "Red and White Plum Blossom Screen," which was exhibited at the Vienna World's Fair at the end of the 19th century. Indeed, Klimt's works from what is called his "Golden Age" exhibit a unique painting technique that fuses Japanese-style gold leaf techniques with oil painting.
Klimt's paintings, which make extensive use of gold leaf, are expressed in the opulent Nishijin-ori textile. A truly timeless collaboration between Korin, Klimt, and Nishijin-ori has been created.
Gustav Klimt (1862–1918)
Born near Vienna, Austria, he was a leading painter of late 19th-century Vienna. Many of his works feature women as subjects, and his erotic depictions are characteristic. He is popular for his luxurious and decorative compositions that boldly use gold leaf, his flat spatial representation, and his unique painting style.
Furthermore, he was influenced by the Rinpa school of Japanese art, and many of his works show a strong interest in the Japonisme style.
Art painting weaving "Apples and Oranges"
The apples and oranges look as if they could come to life at any moment. The way these everyday still lifes, seen on a white tablecloth or plate, are depicted somehow gives them a sense of dynamism. By capturing the subjects from multiple perspectives and adjusting and combining their colors and shapes using unique techniques, the artist expresses diverse depths and vitality on the flat canvas.
This work is considered one of the important paintings that heralded the beginning of Cubism. The delicate details, such as the natural drape of the white cloth placed on the table, are expressed through various weaving techniques of Nishijin-ori.
Paul Cézanne (1839–1906)
Cézanne was a French painter of the late Impressionist period. He distinguished himself from the Impressionism represented by Monet and Renoir, and pursued his own unique style of painting.
In particular, in his still-life paintings, he employed a technique of capturing subjects from multiple angles, greatly influencing the realization of 20th-century Cubism, which began with Picasso, and he is often described as the "father of modern painting."
Art painting weaving: "Two Dancers on Stage"
What is noteworthy is the beautiful and lovely expression of the dancers, captured with Degas' keen observational skills. Furthermore, the bold composition, with its large empty space in the lower left, further highlights the presence of the dancers, and the gaze and pose of the girl on the left connect to the girl on the right, creating a sense of mutual resonance.
The composition, viewed from diagonally above the wings of the stage, is likely an angle only possible because Degas was a member of the Paris Opera and was able to observe ballet practice and rehearsals. The three-dimensionality of the ballet costumes and the graceful movements of the dancers are expressed through the delicate techniques of Nishijin weaving.
Edgar Degas (1834–1917)
He was a French Impressionist painter and sculptor. He developed an interest in painting from a young age, learned the importance of drawing, and continued drawing throughout his life.
Early Impressionist, his work is characterized by a meticulous style that inherited the legacy of classicism. Many of his works feature ballet dancers as subjects, and are characterized by their keen sensitivity in capturing practice scenes and fleeting moments of graceful movement on stage.
