IKEGAMI SHŪHO: The Last Master of the Old School of Japanese Painting
Commemorating the 150th Anniversary of his Birth

Overview

Ikegami Shūho (1874–1944) was born in the town of Nishitakatō in Chikuma Prefecture (now part of the city of Ina in Nagano Prefecture). He moved to Tokyo at the age of 15 to take up painting in earnest, devoting himself to his studies as the first pupil and live-in apprentice of Araki Kanpo, a leading figure in traditional Japanese-style painting (Nihonga). Awarded the highest category of honor, the Tokusen prize, at the Ministry of Education Art Exhibition (Bunten) for three consecutive years beginning in 1916, he served on the jury at its successor—the Imperial Art Academy Exhibition (Teiten), where his work was exempted from the normal vetting process—and established himself as a leading “old school” Nihonga painter at government-sponsored exhibitions.

Compared to “new school” Nihonga painting driven by artists such as Hishida Shunsō (1874–1911)—who was the same age as Shūho and also came from southern Nagano Prefecture (the city of Iida)—works by “old school” painters like Shūho are often thought of as conservative and stylistically old-fashioned, but Shūho’s work shows his enthusiastic adoption of a variety of expressive methods grounded in scrupulous drawing from life and the study of old paintings. Presented systematically here for the first time, his drawings from life are the product of a career-spanning exploration, one that nurtured the sharp observational skills and capacity for accurate portrayal that are arguably at the foundation of his incomparable world of bird-and-flower paintings.

Research and exhibitions on modern Nihonga have largely focused on “new school” painters like Shunsō and Yokoyama Taikan; little in the way of research resources or public attention has been directed toward the “old school.” On the 150th anniversary of Shūho’s birth, we reflect on his career through his outstanding paintings and a great deal of other material to unravel aspects of his creative work that were not simply “old.”

Information

Period : May 25(Sat) - June 30 (Sun), 2024
Opening Hours : 9:00−17:00 (last admission 16:30)
Venue : Main Building 1F/2F Exhibition Gallery 1,2,3
Closed : Wednesdays

Admission

Adults : 1,000 (900) yen
University students & Seniors Over 75 : 700 (600) yen
High school students & children under 18 : Free
*Fees in brackets apply to groups of 20 or more people and other discounts.

Combined Tickets (Special Exhibitions + Collection Exhibitions)
Adults : 1,500 yen
University students & Seniors Over 75 : 1,000 yen

Access

There is no general visitor parking available at the Nagano Prefectural Art Museum.
Use of public transportation is encouraged.

Public Transport

① From the No.1 bus stop of the Zenkoji Exit bus station at the JR Nagano Station, take the Alpico Route 11 bound for Uki via Zenkoji Temple, Route 16 bound for Wakatsuki Higashijo via Zenkoji Temple and Wakatsuki Danchi, or Route 17 bound for Wakatsuki Higashijo via Zenkoji Temple and Nishijo, and get off at the Zenkoji-kita bus stop. It takes about 15 minutes. The museum is a 3-minute walk east from the stop.

② From the No.1 bus stops of the Zenkoji Exit bus station at the JR Nagano Station, take Binzuru-go buses bound for Zenkoji Temple, and get off at the Zenkoji Daimon bus stop. The ride takes approximately 13 minutes. Walk along the omotesando approach up to the main hall of the Zenkoji Temple, then turn right toward Joyama Park; approximately a 10-minute walk.
On weekends and holidays, get off at the Joyama Koen-mae bus stop.

③ If you take the Nagano Dentetsu Line, get off at Zenkoji-shita Station and walk toward Joyama Park; approximately 10 minutes.

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