The Masterpieces – The Red and White Plum Blossoms

MOA Museum of Art presents the three National Treasures from its collection in this periodical exhibition. The Museum’s art collection, which was developed by the founder Okada Mokichi (1882-1955), mainly consists of articles of Oriental art from Japan, China and other countries in Asia. It encompasses a wide range of outstanding artworks of historical significance as well as of aesthetic excellence, ranging from paintings and calligraphic works to sculpture, handicraft, and beyond. In particular, the Red and White Plum Blossoms by Ogata Kōrin is an exceptional work, widely believed to be his magnum opus, and it is today a registered National Treasure. This pair of uni-fold screens depicts two plum trees—red and white—arranged asymmetrically against a gold-leafed background, which accentuates the stylized plum blossoms and the stream of water. This is one of the most exquisite, decorative folding screens.
The exhibition includes the other two National Treasures, namely, the Tea-leaf Jar with design of Wisteria by the establishing authority of Kyoto ware, Nonomura Ninsei, and the Tekagami Kanbokujo, one of Japan’s three best known calligraphic albums, together with a selection of masterpieces of each genre of arts.