The exhibition "Dear Professor Renoir: The Teachings of a Master Lived in Umehara Ryuzaburo" will run from October 19 to January 9, 2017, at the Mitsubishi Ichigokan Museum in Marunouchi, Tokyo. Umehara Ryuzaburo, a leading figure in Japan's Western-style painting scene, earned the nickname "Lion of the Art World" for his bold personality. In 1908, at the age of 20, Umehara traveled to France, a time when modernization was underway and oil painting was becoming established in Japan. In Paris, he was welcomed by fellow students Yasui Sotaro and Tsuda Seifu, who had previously studied abroad. He initially associated with them, but soon became acquainted with Takamura Kotaro and Yamashita Shintaro, both graduates of the Tokyo School of Fine Arts. Immediately after arriving in France, Umehara focused his attention on Kees van Dongen, a popular painter of the time, and Georges Rouault, whose work was causing controversy at the Salon d'Automne and other venues. His work, Reclining Nude, which will be shown exclusively at the Tokyo venue, shows the influence of Van Dongen and is said to have astonished Takamura Kotaro, who worked with him in the same studio. The following year, Umehara met Pierre-Auguste Renoir, whom he regarded as his mentor. He learned much from their conversations and their studio work, and also developed close relationships with Renoir's family. Umehara later incorporated traditional Japanese art styles, such as Momoyama art, Rinpa school, and Nanga painting, into the oil painting he learned in Europe, developing a unique and gorgeous style. He is highly regarded as a master who established Western-style painting in Japan. This exhibition showcases the exchange between East and West in modern painting through approximately 80 pieces, including works by Renoir and Umehara, as well as works from Umehara's personal collection and those of his close friends, such as Picasso and Rouault. The exhibition will showcase Umehara's artistic career, which established his own unique style of oil painting rather than imitating Western paintings, including works rarely exhibited before. It will also feature a simultaneous exhibition of Renoir and Umehara's masterpiece, The Judgement of Paris. Furthermore, works by Renoir, Picasso, Rouault, and others treasured by the discerning collector Umehara Ryuzaburo will be on display. This exhibition will travel to the Abeno Harukas Art Museum in Osaka from January 24 to March 26, 2017.


[Event Information]
"Dear Mr. Renoir - The Teachings of His Master Live on in Umehara Ryuzaburo" (Tokyo venue)
Venue: Mitsubishi Ichigokan Museum of Art
Address: 2-6-2 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Period: October 19th to January 9th, 2017
Hours: 10:00 - 18:00 (Until 20:00 on Fridays, second Wednesdays, and January 4th to 6th, excluding national holidays)
*Last admission 30 minutes before closing
Admission: Adults 1,600 yen, high school and university students 1,000 yen, elementary and junior high school students 500 yen
Closed: Mondays (open on national holidays)
*Closed over the New Year holidays, December 29th to January 1st, 2017
"Dear Mr. Renoir "Mr. Renoir - The Teachings of a Master Alive in Umehara Ryuzaburo" (Osaka venue)
Venue: Abeno Harukas Art Museum
Address: 16th floor, Abeno Harukas, 1-1-43 Abenosuji, Abeno-ku, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture
Dates: January 24th - March 26th, 2017
Hours: Tuesday - Friday 10:00 - 20:00, Monday - Saturday, Sunday and holidays 10:00 - 18:00
*Last admission 30 minutes before closing
Closed: January 30th, February 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th