French painter Pierre Puvis de Chavannes (1824-1898) is best known as a leading mural painter whose masterpieces are displayed on many monumental buildings in France. His paintings often use delicate colors suggestive of Italian Renaissance fresco painting, and though he trained with Romanticists, such as Eugène Delacroix, he is considered one of the pioneers of Symbolism. His work is known to have influenced not only Japanese modern Western painters but also major artists such as Paul Gauguin, Vincent van Gogh and Georges Seurat.
This is the first retrospective of Chavannes' work to be shown in Japan and includes masterpieces collected from world-famous museums such as the Musée d' Orsay and the Museum of Fine Art of Lyon. Also on show are works by Japanese painter, Seiki Kuroda who met with Chavannes in Paris; Jan. 2-March 9.
Bunkamura the Museum; 2-24-1 Dogenzaka, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo. Shibuya Stn. 10 a.m.- 7 p.m. (Fri., Sat. till 9 p.m.). ¥1,400. 03-5777-8600; www.bunkamura.co.jp/english
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