No. 17The 1900s
NihongaUemura Shōen
1875 – 1949 · Japan
Painted women as she saw them: graceful, strong, unhurried.
All artistsNihonga
NihongaFirefly, 1913. Uemura Shōen. Public domain · Source: Wikimedia Commons
Painting
Uemura Shōen
1875 – 1949 · Japan
Raised in Kyoto by her mother, who ran a tea shop, she trained in traditional Japanese painting and became a leading painter of beautiful women (bijinga) at a time when the field was dominated by men.
Know more on Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)Fact file
- Born
- 1875
- Died
- 1949
- Country
- Japan
- Era
- The 1900s
- Style
- Nihonga
- Disciplines
- Painting
- Key work
- Firefly (1913)
- Medium
- Colour on silk
- Where to see it
- Yamatane Museum of Art, Tokyo, Japan
Curiosity!
It is believedShe said she wanted to paint women who were 'pure and refined' — not just pretty, but with inner dignity.
What we know (and what we don’t)
- Documented
In 1948 she became the first woman to receive Japan's Order of Culture.
Where to see her
On view right now
- Opens 13 Mar 2027Group show
Sketches and finished paintings by three generations of Uemura
“上村三代の下絵と本画－また初公開も－（仮）”
Shōhaku Art Museum · Nara, Japan
13 Mar 2027 – 19 Jul 2027
Provisional title and dates — with her son and grandson, both painters too.
Official page for Sketches and finished paintings by three generations of Uemura (opens in a new tab)
Museums that own her work
- Shōhaku Art MuseumNara, Japan(opens in a new tab)
- Kyoto City KYOCERA Museum of ArtKyoto, Japan(opens in a new tab)
- Yamatane Museum of ArtTokyo, Japan(opens in a new tab)
Owning isn’t always showing: works rotate, go into storage or travel on loan — check before you go.
Hunting for a show we missed?
Exhibition list last checked 25 Oct 2026.