Toward the end of the 19th century, a series of avant-garde art movements in Europe experimented with new ways to express the female nude. In Japan, however, the naked woman remained taboo.
This exhibition focuses on Japanese painters who studied in Europe during the early 20th century, and then returned to their native country to influence art with Western culture and techniques. Such artists, including Takeji Fujishima and Ryuzaburo Umehara, not only introduced new styles, they helped bring about the acceptance of the female nude.
Also on display are the latest works of Atsushi Suwa, whose meticulously detailed paintings of the human form have won him critical acclaim; till Sep. 29.
Kasama Nichido Museum of Art; (0296) 72-2160; 978-4, Kasama, Ibaraki; Tomobe Station, The Joban Line. 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. ¥1,000. Closed Mon. www.nichido-museum.or.jp/index.html.