Last year marked the 150th anniversary of the birth of Seiho Takeuchi (1864-1942), a pioneer of nihonga (Japanese-style painting), whose influence on the genre helped it develop even further from its traditional restraints.
Having traveled around Europe for seven months when he was 36, Takeuchi painted works that had their roots in traditional Japanese painting but were also influenced by Western movements. He was especially inspired by European artists such as JMW Turner and Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot, and produced unusual works such as "Roma-no-Zu," a depiction of the historical architecture of Rome in a Japanese screen form, and "Suezu Keshiki," a surprising oil painting of the Egyptian Suez landscape; Feb. 7-March 29.
Himeji City Museum of Art; 68-25 Honmachi, Himeji, Hyogo. Himeji Stn. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. ¥1,100. Closed Mon. 079-222-2288; www.city.himeji.lg.jp/art