Seated Woman

Mitsuyu Chihagi, artist

active early 1900s

Seated Woman, mid 1930s, Showa period (1926–1989)

Where object was made: Japan

Material/technique: paper; color

Dimensions:
Image Dimensions Height/Width (Height x Width): 193.5 x 109.5 cm
Image Dimensions Height/Width (Height x Width): 76 3/16 x 43 1/8 in
Canvas/Support (Height x Width x Depth): 196.8 x 112.8 cm
Canvas/Support (Height x Width x Depth): 77 1/2 x 44 7/16 in

Credit line: Museum purchase: Helen Foresman Spencer Art Acquisition Fund

Accession number: 1996.0105

Not on display

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Mitsuyu Chihagi and her daughter were two outsanding students of an Osaka-based painting school led by the female painter Kitani Chigusa (1895-1947). Mitsuyu Chihagi is believed to have come from a wealthy family of Osaka, but unfortunately not much is known about her and few of her paintings are published.

This painting continues a long tradition of painting beautiful women called bijinga, while also incorporating Western painting practices, such as the canvas format. In this painting the woman is not young and we cannot see her entire face. She is depicted in strict profile with an enigmatic gaze, leading the viewer beyond the picture frame and generating psychological tension. Is this a portrait of someone the painter knew? Is the sitter waiting for someone, and if not, why is she sitting here? Unfortunately, no clues are given within the painting and not enough is known of the artist's life to provide us with answers.