Iemitsu's drawings

[thomas]

If you are interested in the lesser-known facets of Tokugawa Iemitsu's personality, you should head to Fuchu Art Museum.

Iemitsu, the third Tokugawa shogun , is infamous for implementing Japan's version of "splendid isolation" and his severe persecution of the Christian faith. In his spare time, however, he indulged in ink paintings:

Iemitsu enjoyed painting and sometimes gave his works to retainers, museum officials said. Less than 10 drawings by Iemitsu survive. They are all executed in a simple style, according to Nobuhisa Kaneko, curator of the museum. "I cannot tell if Iemitsu intentionally painted badly, but it was his style," Kaneko said.

"Horned Owl" depicts a bird with an innocent-looking facial expression. It has been stored at Yogenji temple in Tokyo's Bunkyo Ward. "Rabbit" was discovered in Kyoto several years ago. It depicts a hairy animal perched on a stump with big black eyes. The drawing is mounted on a hanging scroll with a crest of hollyhock that symbolizes the Tokugawa clan. It was kept in a heavy box and handed down through generations with great care.

Source: Rare but 'poor' drawings by 3rd shogun to be shown in Tokyo：The Asahi Shimbun

The exhibition will open on March 16 and close on May 12., 2019.