The National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto is set to host a special exhibition titled Modern Urban Life and Takehisa Yumeji – The Kawanishi Hide Collection from March 28th to June 21st, 2026. Drawing from the renowned Kawanishi Hide Collection, the exhibition explores the lasting influence of Takehisa Yumeji on modern Japanese visual culture and the evolving image of urban life in the Taisho and Showa periods.
Takehisa Yumeji is now widely recognized as a key figure in modern Japanese art, but during his lifetime he was best known as an illustrator and designer whose work reached everyday audiences. His distinctive style appeared on postcards, books, wrapping cloths, and patterned paper, making his art a familiar presence in homes and shops rather than confined to galleries. This accessibility helped shape popular aesthetics during a period of rapid urbanization and cultural change.
Printmaker Kawanishi Hide was deeply influenced by Yumeji's work, and more than one-third of his extensive collection consists of Yumeji-related prints, books, and commercial designs. The exhibition places these works alongside pieces by other artists of the Showa era, including Onchi Koshiro, to show how Yumeji's imagery and ideas resonated with later generations.
Together, the artworks highlight changing cityscapes, modern lifestyles, and the experimental spirit of early modern Japanese art. The exhibition offers visitors a chance to view Yumeji not only as an individual artist, but as a cultural force whose influence extended across art, design, and daily life.
