This exhibition commemorates the 90th anniversary of the Kyoto City Museum of Art. Takeuchi Seiho was the most influential painter in the Japanese painting world of modern Kyoto. During the Meiji period (1868-1912), when he sought innovation among Kyoto’s painting circles, he traveled to Europe in search of a new style of Japanese painting that broke away from old customs. In the Taisho and Showa periods, when his techniques had reached maturity, he became a leading figure in the art world and is also known for having trained many students while remaining active at the forefront. While emphasizing the importance of “sketching,” he created vivid works with outstanding brushwork and led the painting circles of the time with overwhelming centripetal force, laying the foundations for modern Japanese painting in Kyoto.

In this exhibition, a collection of Seiho’s representative works from his early years to his mature period, including the Important Cultural Property Posing for the First Time from the Museum’s collection, are gathered together to reflect on his painting career. In addition to his paintings, the exhibition also includes various materials related to Seiho’s work, such as sketches, preparatory drawings, and reproductions of old paintings, with the aim of further revealing the challenges Seiho set himself. This is a large-scale retrospective exhibition that provides a comprehensive overview of Seiho’s efforts.