Matabei Iwasa (aka Katsumochi, 1578-1650) was an influential figure in Japanese painting with his characteristic depiction of people with roundish elongated faces. His technique that amalgamated Japanese and Chinese drawing methods stirred the imagination of the nation. He thrived in poetry illustration, genre painting and story depictions. His scrolls based on the scripts of classic Joruri tales were luxurious and became an epitome of Matabei’s career as a painter. The scroll The Tale of Princess Joruri depicts a love story between a traveling young man Ushiwaka and a young daughter of a Lord of Yahagi in the domain of Mikawa. Expensive materials such as gold leaves, gold and silver paints, verdigris and azurite generously applied, this is one of the most elaborate scroll picture stories attributed to Matabei.
This exhibition presents the entire series of 12 scrolls, a rare opportunity organized for the first time since 2014. Be absorbed in the charm of Matabei’s finesse - the exhibition also includes other masterpieces from Matabei collection. The Tale of Yamanaka Tokiwa (Tome 1) is considered to be the scroll Matabei was most deeply involved in its creation. The Tale of Horie (Tome 6) tells a story of baron Horie of the Shimotsuke domain who avenges his father’s death. The Important Cultural Property Kakinomoto-no-Hitomaro and Ki-no-Tsurayuki takes themes from Yamato-e paintings, depicting poetic saints with his liberal execution of the Chinese monochrome painting technique.
Open on public holiday Thursday but closed on the following day. Closed in between exhibitions.
Fee
Adults ¥1760; University and High School Students ¥1100; Seniors 65 & Over ¥1540; Junior High School Students and Under, Persons with Disability Certificates + 2 Companion free
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