Exhibition：2026 Exhibition Ⅱ “Japanese Modern Osaka-A Collection of Japanese Paintings”
Organizing：Hankyu Cultural Foundation Itsuo Art Museum
Venue：Itsuo Art Museum
Nearest Station：Hankyu Takarazuka Line “Ikeda”Station
Dates：2026-04-18（Sat）〜2026-06-14（Sun）
Open：10：00～17：00（Entry until 16:30）
Closed：Monday（Except 5/4）、5/7
Admission：Adult 700yen, High school students and above 500yen
*Free for junior high school students and younger
Contact Information：TEL 072-751-3865
URL：https://www.hankyu-bunka.or.jp/itsuo-museum/exhibition/20260418/
More Information：Against the backdrop of the city’s prosperity from the Edo period through the Meiji, Taisho, and Showa eras, the people of modern Osaka celebrated a variety of cultural and artistic pursuits. Even those who worked in business in the bustling metropolis lined with modern architecture would, upon returning home, change into traditional Japanese clothing and enjoy Japanese cuisine in a tatami-matted room. For people who based their lifestyle on this traditional Japanese way of life, Japanese painting was naturally an art form that was close at hand and cherished in their daily lives. However, it seems that their paintings were not content with merely imitating tradition, but rather appreciated for their unique, modern sensibility.
In this exhibition, we have selected works from Ichizo Kobayashi’s collection of Japanese paintings to recreate three scenes in which people of that time enjoyed art. First, works depicting seasonal scenery, which were favored as alcove decorations in tatami rooms, reveal the gentle sentiment of welcoming guests. Second, works of literati painting and haiku painting, which were enjoyed alongside literature such as poetry, offer a glimpse into the spirit of the people of Osaka who were instrumental in the development of culture. And third, works that enlivened gatherings such as tea ceremonies and banquets seem to evoke the cheers and applause. Through these three scenes, we hope to bring to life the world of Japanese modernism that the people of modern Osaka cherished.
*All signage and explanations at the exhibition venue will be in Japanese. There will be no descriptions of the works in other languages.
