YUMEJI’s 140th Birthday Exhibition: Taisho Romanticism and a New World (January 18 – March 16, Abeno Harukas Art Museum)
The Abeno Harukas Art Museum in Osaka is set to host a major retrospective celebrating the 140th anniversary of the birth of Takehisa Yumeji (1884-1934), an artist whose name is synonymous with the Taisho Romanticism movement in Japan. Running from January 18 to March 16, 2025, this exhibition offers a comprehensive look at Yumeji’s prolific career, showcasing his enduring appeal and significant influence on Japanese art and design.
A Deep Dive into Yumeji’s World
Yumeji’s art, particularly his iconic "Yumeji-style beauties," captured the public’s imagination during the Taisho era (1912-1926), a period marked by a flourishing of new artistic and cultural expressions. This exhibition, drawing primarily from the esteemed collection of the Yumeji Art Museum, presents approximately 180 works and related materials. These pieces have been selected through a fresh lens, informed by the latest scholarly research, to provide a nuanced understanding of Yumeji’s artistic journey.
The breadth of the exhibition is notable, extending beyond Yumeji’s well-known paintings to encompass a diverse range of his creative output. Visitors can expect to see examples of his work in magazine illustrations, sheet music covers, book designs, and even everyday items, demonstrating the pervasive influence of his aesthetic.
Oil Paintings: A Rarity and a Revelation
A significant draw for art enthusiasts will be the display of 13 of Yumeji’s oil paintings, a rare opportunity given that only around 30 such works are known to exist. Among these, the exhibition features "Amaryllis," an oil painting recently rediscovered after being lost for eight decades. This marks the painting’s Osaka debut, following showings in Okayama and Tokyo. "Amaryllis" offers a fascinating insight into Yumeji’s artistic development, showcasing his attempt to synthesize Western painting techniques with his unique Japanese sensibility, evident in the subject’s expressive face and distinctively rendered hands.
Another highlight is the large-scale oil painting "Nude on the West Coast," recently repatriated from the United States. This piece, believed to be the only one among Yumeji’s extant oil paintings to depict a nude foreign woman, was created during his travels in America. It stands as a testament to his mastery of oil painting, with the subject’s pale skin rendered in striking detail, exemplifying the bijinga (pictures of beautiful women) genre that Yumeji helped to define.
Image of "Nude on the West Coast"
Enriching the Experience: Lectures in Collaboration with Harukas University
In conjunction with the exhibition, Harukas University will host two special lectures, providing deeper context and insights into Yumeji’s life and work.
① "Yumeji’s Love and Dreams – Along with the Romance Left in Newly Discovered Works"
- Lecturer: Masayuki Okabe (Exhibition Supervisor, Professor Emeritus of Teikyo University, Special Director of the Gunma Prefectural Museum of Modern Art)
- Date and Time: January 18, 2025 (Saturday), 13:30-15:00 (Doors open at 13:00)
② "The Yumeji Art Museum Collection and the Origin of Yumeji’s Art"
- Lecturer: Hiromi Kojima (Acting Director and Curator of the Yumeji Art Museum)
- Date and Time: February 11, 2025 (Tuesday, National Holiday), 15:00-16:30 (Doors open at 14:30)
Details for Both Lectures:
- Fee: Free, but a ticket to the exhibition (used or unused) is required.
- Venue: Abeno Harukas 23rd floor, Harukas University Seminar Room
- Capacity: 70 people (Advance application required on a first-come, first-served basis. Applications close when capacity is reached.)
- Application Method: Harukas University Website
Exhibition Details
- Period: January 18, 2025 (Saturday) – March 16, 2025 (Sunday) – Open daily throughout the exhibition period.
- Hours:
- Tuesday-Friday: 10:00-20:00
- Monday, Saturday, Sunday, and holidays: 10:00-18:00
- (Last entry 30 minutes before closing)
- Venue: Abeno Harukas Art Museum (1-1-43 Abeno-suji, Abeno-ku, Osaka City, Abeno Harukas 16th floor)
- Admission Fees:
- General: 1,700 yen (1,500 yen for advance tickets or groups of 15 or more)
- University/High School Students: 1,300 yen (1,100 yen for advance tickets or groups of 15 or more)
- Elementary/Junior High School Students: 500 yen (300 yen for advance tickets or groups of 15 or more)
- Contact: 06-4399-9050 (Abeno Harukas Art Museum)
- Website: https://www.ktv.jp/event/yumeji2025/
View hotels near the eventUnderstanding Yumeji and Taisho Romanticism
Yumeji Takehisa was a notable Japanese artist and poet associated with the Taisho Romanticism movement during Japan’s Taisho era (1912-1926). This period saw a blend of Western influences with traditional Japanese aesthetics, creating a distinct cultural and artistic expression. Yumeji’s work exemplifies this fusion, marked by its delicate style and focus on beauty, nostalgia, and the transient nature of life.
Taisho Romanticism, as seen in Yumeji’s work, often explores themes of longing and introspection, reflecting an era that was both modern and deeply rooted in Japanese culture. His art, especially his bijin-ga (pictures of beautiful women), is known for its graceful lines and melancholic charm, capturing the complexities of human emotion and the evolving societal landscape of early 20th-century Japan.
The exhibition at Abeno Harukas Art Museum provides an opportunity to explore Yumeji’s world, examining how his work continues to connect with contemporary audiences and showcasing the lasting appeal of Taisho Romanticism. Through his paintings, illustrations, and poetry, visitors can appreciate the interplay of tradition and modernity that characterizes this artistic movement.
