It is widely known that famed art dealer Hayashi Tadamasa (1853-1906) was the one responsible for introducing Japanese art to the West. Hayashi travelled to the 1878 World’s Fair in Paris as an interpreter. This was a time when Japanese art and crafts were gaining interests abroad.
He continued working in Paris as a dealer of Japanese art thereafter, and traveled back and forth between Paris and Japan, introducing Japanese art to Europe. Hayashi became aware of the important cultural role held by art museums in the West, and dreamt of one day building an art museum in Japan. Little by little he built up a collection of Western art, mainly works by Impressionists and contemporary artists. However, Hayashi’s plan was never realised due to his early death after returning to Japan. His collection of European art was disbursed through a number of sales held after his death.
This exhibition traces the life of Hayashi Tadamasa, focusing on his involvement in the cultural and artistic exchange between Japan and Europe.