ARTIST DETAILS

1875～1949

Uemura Shoen (1875-1949, real name Uemura Tsune) was a Meiji to Showa period female Japanese painter. Born in Kyoto, she studied under the great painters, Suzuki Shonen, Kono Bairei, and Takeuchi Seiho. Often depicting historically themed motifs, such as the townspeople of Edo or a street of the Meiji period, her styles differs to ukiyo-e. Best known for her bijin-ga (paintings of beautiful women), her works are respected works of elegance and beauty. She became the first woman to be awarded Japan's prestigious Order of Culture.