Seated Woman, Mitsuyu Chihagi

Artwork Overview

Mitsuyu Chihagi, Seated Woman
Mitsuyu Chihagi, Seated Woman
Mitsuyu Chihagi
Seated Woman
mid 1930s, Showa period (1926–1989)
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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Archive Label date unknown: 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.