Geijutsu no Aki: Autumn as the Art Season in Japan

君待つと​
吾が​恋ひをれば​
我が​屋戸の​
すだれ​動かし
秋の​風吹く​

As I wait for you
in anticipation
the blinds
of my window flutter
but it’s only the autumn breeze

日本の​文化に​おいて、​四季は​すべてに​特別な​意味が​あります。​秋は​特に、​額田王の​詩のような​ロマンティックで​メランコリックな​感情を​呼び起こす季節です。​日本の​秋は、​確かに​切ない​魅力に​満ちており、​空気に​漂う​金木犀の​甘い​香りや、​落ち葉の​鮮やかな​色彩が​織りなす美しい​光景などは、​見る​者を​いつも​感動させてくれます。​

All four seasons hold a special significance in Japanese culture, but it is autumn that particularly stirs romantic and melancholic emotions in Princess Nukata’s poetry. Japanese autumn is indeed imbued with a wistful charm, characterized by the sweet scent of osmanthus in the air and the vibrant colors of falling leaves, creating a breathtaking spectacle that never fails to inspire.

“Shinshu Sarashina, Moon Over Rice Fields”, Utagawa Hiroshige, 1857, Woodblock print, The Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York)

毎年、​多くの​人々が​紅葉狩りに​出かけ、​素晴らしい​風景を​観覧し、​秋の​季節に​自然が​見せる​美しい​色合いを​楽しみます。​紅葉狩りは、​秋の​葉の​美しさと​芸術的な​感性が​融合した​日本の​伝統的な​文化で、​古代から​現代に​至るまで​人々を​魅了し続けています。​この​伝統は、​759年頃に​成立した​最古の​日本の​詩集である​『万葉集』に​見る​ことができるように、​古くから​歴史に​根ざしています。​紅葉狩りは、​奈良時代や​平安時代に​起源が​あり、​宮廷で​最も​優雅な​遊びの​ひとつと​見なされていました。​貴族たちは、​秋の​紅葉を​楽しみながら詩を​詠み、​宴を​開く​ために​山へ​出かけました。​

Every year, hundreds of people embark on autumn foliage hunts, eager to capture amazing landscapes and admire the stunning hues that nature presents during this season. Momijigari (maple leaf hunting) is a Japanese tradition that intertwines the beauty of autumn leaves with an artistic sensibility, captivating people from ancient times to the present. This phenomenon is rooted in history, as evidenced by the Manyōshū (Collection of Ten Thousand Leaves), the oldest existing anthology of Japanese poetry dating back to around 759 AD. It seems that Momijigari originated during the Nara and Heian periods, where it was regarded as one of the most elegant pastimes at court. Nobles would travel to the mountains specifically to compose poetry and feast while admiring the autumn foliage.

“Maple-leaf Viewing” (Momijigari no zu), Utagawa Kunisada, 1850s, Woodblock print, Private Collection

何世紀にも​わたり、​日本に​おける​秋と​芸術の​結び​つきは​深まってきました。​江戸時代には、​広重、​国貞、​北斎などの​浮世絵師たちが​秋や​紅葉狩りを​題材に​した​作品を​多く​残しました。​それ以来、​「芸術の​秋」や​「美術の​秋」と​いう​表現が​登場し、​秋が​芸術を​楽しむ​最良の​季節である​ことが​示されるようになりました。​これらの​言葉は​1918年に​雑誌『新潮』で​初めて​使われ、​現在でも​広く​使われています。​

Over the centuries, the connection between the arts and the fall season in Japan has deepened significantly. During the Edo period, many Ukiyo-e masters, from Hiroshige to Kunisada and Hokusai, chose autumn and Momijigari as subjects for their works. Since then, common expressions such as ‘geijutsu no aki’ and ‘bijutsu no aki’ (autumn for the arts) have emerged to indicate that autumn is the best season to enjoy art. These terms were first used in 1918 by the magazine Shincho (New Tide) and remain in common use today.

“Autumn Maple Trees”, Tawaraya Sōri, 18th century, Hanging scroll, Harvard Art Museums (Cambridge)

秋は​また、​世界中の​アーティストに​インスピレーションを​与えてきました。​紅葉狩りのような​日本特有の​文化が​秋の​本質を​捉えている​一方で、​秋を​象徴する​ものは​多くの​文化で​見られます。​秋は​ぶどう、​栗、​きの​こ、​かぼちゃなどを​連想させ、​静物画の​モチーフと​しても​最適です。​ルネサンス時代には、​これらの​秋の​モチーフを​用いて、​深い​明暗と​精緻な​写実的な​絵が​描かれました。​代表的な​作品には、​ジュゼッペ・アルチンボルドの​ユニークな​『秋』や、​カラヴァッジオの​力強い​『バッカス』が​あります。​

Autumn has also inspired artists across the world. While uniquely Japanese elements like Momijigari capture the essence of this season, many symbols are found across cultures. Autumn brings to mind grapes, chestnuts, mushrooms, and pumpkins, making it the quintessential season for still life. During the Renaissance, numerous works highlighted these autumnal themes with deep chiaroscuro and detailed realism. Notable examples include Giuseppe Arcimboldo’s whimsical ‘Autumn’ and Caravaggio’s intense ‘Bacchus’.

“Autumn”, Giuseppe Arcimboldo, 1573, Oil on canvas, Kunsthistorisches Museum (Vienna)

“Bacchus”, Michelangelo Buonarroti, 1496-1497, Marble, Galleria Borghese (Rome)

秋の​魅力的な​点は、​鮮やかな​色彩と​メランコリックな​雰囲気の​対比です。​カンディンスキーの​『秋の​川』のような​作品は、​明るい​色彩と​力強い​筆致で​活気に​満ちた​気分を​表現しています。​一方、​エゴン・シーレの​『秋の​太陽』のような​作品は、​寒い冬に​備える​メランコリックで​疲れた​秋を​賛美しています。​

An intriguing aspect of autumn lies in its contrast of vibrant colors and melancholic atmosphere. Some works, like Kandinsky’s ‘Autumn River’, embody lively moods with bright colors and bold brushstrokes. Conversely, pieces like Egon Schiele’s ‘Autumn sun‘ pay homage to a deeply melancholic and weary autumn, preparing for the cold of winter.

“Autumn Sun and Trees”, Egon Schiele, 1914, Oil on canvas, Private Collection

“Autumn River”, Wassily Kandinsky, 1911, Oil on canvas, The State Tretyakov Gallery (Moscow)

も​しこの​記事が​あなたの​詩的な​感覚を​刺激し、​あなたの秋を​芸術で​表現したい​気持ちに​なったなら、​ぜひArtbar Tokyoで、​紅葉の​美しさを​キャンバスに​描きに​来てください！​ 金箔を​施した​魅惑的な​葉から、​鮮やかな​秋の​風景まで、​お好みの​デザインを​選んで、​この​美しい​季節を​一緒に​迎えましょう。​お待ちしています！​

If this article has sparked your poetic spirit and you feel inspired to celebrate autumn through your artistic flair, join us at Artbar Tokyo to capture the beauty of maple leaves directly onto your canvas! Pick your favorite design, from enchanting leaves with golden foil to vibrant autumn landscapes, and join us in welcoming this beautiful season. We look forward to seeing you!