【Feature Exhibition 1】Intellectual Japanese Women Exhibition 3 : Apr.23-Jun.16

- Gyokujo-Futagawa’s artworks and her artistic relationship-

This exhibition features the artworks of Futagawa Gyokujo, a female artist of the Fukuoka Clan, and it introduces other female cultural figures resided in Fukuoka from the Bunka to Tempo Period. (18th Century).

 Gyokujo was from castle town of Fukuoka and her original name was Taki. She was a daughter of a famous calligrapher Futagawa Sosuke of the Fukuoka Clan. Her father, Sosuke studied under Kamei Nanmei, a Confucian of the Fukuoka Clan and through his father, she was active in communicating with his fellow calligraphers of the period. Being influenced by her father Sosuke, Gyokujo too, completed some literati style artworks. One of her masterpieces is a drawing depicting a plum tree in the snow. The audacious structure of the drawing was highly praised by her father Sosuke, who offered a compliment on the drawing.

 Shokin was good at depicting bamboo and orchard which were a popular subject among literati. 

 Gyokujo’s farther Sukechika was also well versed with music called “Imayou”, the popular songs of the period. He was also an expert in the study of Japanese classical literature such as Manyo-shu and poetry.

 Fukuoka’s famous poet, Ookuma Kotomichi and Nomura Moto and her husband Teikan all studied under Sukechika. Sukechika’s broad relationship with those talented poets greatly influenced Gyokujo and her sister Tsuru’s way of life.