Bijin in Red Kimono 

Kiyokata Kaburagi painted ‘Bijin in Red Kimono’ in the Shin-Nihonga style sometime in the 20th century. This painting evokes the artistic and social environment of early modern Japan. The term Bijin-ga means ‘pictures of beautiful women’ and refers to a traditional genre that became popular in Japan from the 17th century onwards. However, Kaburagi's work is far from traditional. It fuses elements of traditional Japanese art with Western influences, reflecting the complex cultural landscape of Japan in the Meiji and Taisho periods when Japanese artists were grappling with the impact of Western modernity. Kaburaki was part of a generation of artists who were trying to redefine Japanese painting for a new era. By looking at the themes and styles that were popular at the time, and also consulting historical documents, you start to understand this painting as an expression of a very specific moment in Japanese cultural history.