ギャラリー厳選、岩佐又兵衛による最も有名な13の絵画

Evening Mist” (Yūgiri), from Collection of Ancient Chinese and Japanese Stories (Wakan koji setsuwa zu)

The air hangs heavy and damp, thick with a grey veil that blurs the line between the earth and the heavens. In this quiet moment, a man stands alone on the right, his figure a solitary silhouette against the encroaching gloom. He faces a closed gate, a wooden barrier that separates him from the sanctuary of a mountain cottage. This is the scene of Yūgiri, a man caught in the…

The Poet Mibu no Tadamine, from a set of album leaves illustrating The Thirty-six Poetic Immortals

Introduction to Nihonga Art Movement and Iwasa Matabei The Nihonga art movement emerged during the Meiji period (1868-1912) as a response to the rise of Western-style painting known as Yōga. The term "Nihonga" literally translates to "pictures of Japan," emphasizing its connection to traditional Japanese art forms. Iwasa Matabei, an artist from this movement, is renowned for his unique style and contribution to Nihonga. The Poet Mibu no Tadamine: A…

The Four Pleasures

We are looking at The Four Pleasures, a work attributed to the Japanese artist Iwasa Matabē. Created during the early Edo period, this piece reflects the refined sensibilities of a painter who lived from 1578 to 1650. It is a significant example of the artistic output from this era, capturing a specific moment in the evolution of Japanese visual language.

Coastal Landscape

Rakuchū rakugai zu (Funaki)

“A Boat Cast Adrift” (Ukifune), from Collection of Ancient Chinese and Japanese Stories (Wakan koji setsuwa zu)

Iwasa Matabei, also known as Araki Katsumochi, was a prominent Japanese artist of the early Tokugawa period. Born in 1578 and passing away on July 20, 1650, he specialized in genre scenes of historical events and illustrations of classical Japanese and Chinese literature, as well as portraits. Matabei's work is highly regarded for its unique style and attention to detail, making him a sought-after artist during his time. One of…

Portrait of the Poet Kakimoto no Hitomaro

Two Women

Archbishop Henjō (Sōjō Henjō zu), from the Dōon Version of the Thirty-Six Poetic Immortals

In ancient Japanese court society, poetry was the quintessential literary experience. Idealized and deeply admired, poets were often commemorated in portraiture. In the early eleventh century, Fujiwara Kintō (966–1041) selected thirty-six “poetic immortals” (kasen) from the past, and their images became a popular theme in Yamato-e, traditional Japanese painting. This imaginary portrait of Archbishop Henjō was originally part of a set of album leaves comprising all thirty-six poets. Some of…

“Taira no Koremori’s Farewell,” from The Tale of the Heike (Heike monogatari)

This painting pictorializes a scene from The Tale of the Heike, the great early medieval tale of war, valor, and tragic love that commemorates the Genpei War of 1180–85, which pitted the two great courtier families—the Taira (Heike clan) and Minamoto (Genji clan)—against each other. Matabei captures one of the most pivotal and poignant episodes of the entire tale, showing one of the last heirs to the Taira family’s power,…