Furuyama Moromasa – Woman Under Plum Blossoms

Description

Woman under Plum Blossoms
by Furuyama Moromasa (early 18th century) – Tokyo National Museum

Women show different aspects of beauty, according to their age. This picture portrays the unobtrusive beauty of a mature, married woman. The way she docs her hair, the short sleeves, the
color and pattern of the kimono all suggest modesty. The artist catches her as she is about to leave after a short rest during plum-blossom viewing: she is concerned about her hair-do and has lifted her hand to adjust it. It is a casual scene, yet suggestive of the care of a woman for her appearance.

In Japan and China, viewing plum-blossoms in early spring is an old’ and widespread custom. Plum-blossoms are not as magnificent a sight as massed cherry trees in bloom, but they are highly esteemed for their fragrance, and in painting the unobtrusive beauty of a mature woman, the artist seems also to be paying homage to the modest plum-blossom.

Furuyama Moromasa lived in the first half of the eightcenth century. Few of his paintings survive, but his themes and way of dealing with them suggest that Moromasa had a deep appreciation of simple, unpretentious female beauty.

Printed in Japan