The beauty of women has long been a favorite subject for many artists. For example, during the Heian Period (794-1185), beautiful women were often depicted on picture scrolls, and in the Edo Period (1603-1867) they were seen in ukiyo-e (Japanese-genre paintings and prints).
It was not until the Meiji Era (1868-1912), however, that bijin-ga (painting of beautiful women) was established as a sub-genre of nihonga (Japanese-style painting). Other sub-genres also developed, such as kacho-ga (painting of birds and flowers) and sansui-ga (landscape painting).
On show in this exhibition are some 40 works by well-known nihonga painters such as Shoen Uemura, Kiyokata Kaburaki and Shinsui Ito; till Aug. 31.
Adachi Museum of Art, (0854) 28-7111, 320 Furukawa-cho, Yasugi-shi, Shimane; free shuttle bus from Yasugi, Yonago stations, JR Sanin Honsen Line. 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m. ¥2,200. www.adachi-museum.or.jp.