Wakaba わか葉（わかば） – Shōen Uemura 上村松園（うえむら しょうえん） A refined bijin-ga work after Shōen Uemura, one of the most celebrated female painters in the history of modern Japanese art. Shōen is renowned for her portrayals of women imbued with dignity, grace, and inner strength, depicted with a quiet, lyrical sense of atmosphere. In this composition, a young woman in a light blue kimono rests her chin on her hand, gazing thoughtfully into the distance. The soft spring light filtering through the shōji screen, the fresh green foliage at the side, and the restrained color palette together evoke the clear air of the wakaba (young leaves) season. The subtle expression on her face suggests a moment of calm introspection rather than superficial beauty, which is a hallmark of Shōen’s bijin-ga. The original painting was created between 1940 and 1948. This work is a commemorative silkscreen print produced in 1999, in a limited edition of 380, to mark the 50th anniversary of Shōen Uemura’s passing. The edition was created under the supervision and direction of her grandson, the nihonga painter Atsushi Uemura, ensuring that the delicate brushwork and atmosphere of the original are faithfully conveyed. --- Artist Profile Shōen Uemura (1875–1949) • 1875 – Born in Kyoto • 1887 – Entered Kyoto Prefectural School of Painting • 1900 – Received a silver medal at the 9th Japan Art Association and Japan Art Institute Joint Exhibition; exhibited “Mother and Child” at the Paris Exposition • 1916 – Became exempt from jury examination at the Bunten (Ministry of Education Art Exhibition); her works were widely exhibited overseas and received high acclaim • 1948 – Awarded the Order of Culture, the first woman to receive this honor • 1949 – Passed away Her son Shōkō Uemura and her grandson Atsushi Uemura also became distinguished nihonga painters, and all three generations were awarded the Order of Culture, the highest honor in the Japanese art world. --- Accessories None --- Dimensions & Weight Artwork (W × H × D): 77.0 × 66.8 × 0.7 cm (mounted on wooden panel) Sheet size (W × H): 70.0 × 61.0 cm --- Technique & Condition Technique: Silkscreen Material: Paper mounted on wooden panel (7 mm) Condition: Excellent condition --- Shipping Shipping via Japan Post EMS from Japan. Items are securely packed to ensure safe international delivery. Please note that I can ship only to countries where EMS delivery from Japan is available. For bidders in the United States: Please be aware that additional import duties or tariffs may be applied by U.S. Customs, and the amounts can be significantly high depending on the item and the current regulations. If you choose to place a bid, please do so with full understanding of the possible customs charges. Import duties, VAT, and customs handling fees are the sole responsibility of the buyer.