In recent years, the work of the Western-style painter Yajuro Takashima (1890-1975), who occupies a singular place in Japanese art history, has been the subject of a tremendous amount of interest. Born in Kurume, Fukuoka Prefecture, Takashima attended what is today Nagoya University before entering Tokyo Imperial University (now the University of Tokyo). After graduating from the school, he began to pursue a career as a painter. His works, depicting unusual subjects such as candles and the moon, and distinguished by their realistic brushstrokes, are imbued with the power to quietly unnerve and enchant the viewer.

This exhibition, the first solo show of Takashima’s work to be held in Aichi Prefecture (where Nagoya University is located), serves as the largest retrospective of the artist’s practice. Here, we illuminate the creative world of Yajuro Takashima, an artist who remained faithful to his personal ideals and beliefs.