Is it possible for a museum to embody a horizon? The Artizon Museum in Tokyo strives to do just that. It combines “art” and “horizon” in its name. This reflects its commitment to pioneering art.
The Artizon Museum stands in Kyobashi. It reopened in January 2020. Before that, it was known as the Bridgestone Museum of Art. The museum’s location is within the Museum Tower Kyobashi.
Shojiro Ishibashi founded the museum in 1952. He also founded the Bridgestone Tire Co. Ishibashi means “stone bridge” in Japanese. The Artizon Museum’s collections are diverse. They feature Impressionists and Post-Impressionists. You can also find twentieth-century art. Japanese, European, and American artists are represented. Ancient Greek ceramics are also included.
In 2015, the Artizon Museum closed for a while. This closure paved the way for a new building. The museum reopened in January 2020 in this new space. The new building is called the Nagasaka Sangyo Kyobashi Building.
During the closure, the museum loaned pieces to other institutions. This ensured the art remained accessible.
The Artizon Museum’s collection includes works by Edgar Degas. Pierre-Auguste Renoir is also featured. You can find art by Camille Pissarro and Édouard Manet. Vincent van Gogh and Paul Gauguin are present. Gustave Moreau and Paul Cézanne are as well. Claude Monet and Amedeo Clemente Modigliani add to the collection. Don’t miss pieces by Maurice Denis and Georges Rouault. Pablo Picasso and Paul Klee are also showcased. Japanese artists like Narashige Koide are included. Tsuguharu Foujita and Fujishima Takeji are featured. Shigeru Aoki’s art is present too.
Several collection highlights stand out. “Young Man Playing the Piano” by Gustave Caillebotte is a must-see. “Still Life with Flowers, Fruits, Wineglass and Tea Cup” by Henri Fantin-Latour is stunning. Claude Monet’s “Water-Lilies” enchants visitors. “Vegetable Garden” by Camille Pissarro is delightful. “Woman and Child on a Balcony” by Berthe Morisot is captivating. Mary Cassatt’s “Augusta Reading to Her Daughter” is tender. “Sleep” by Eva Gonzalès is intriguing. Pierre-Auguste Renoir’s “Georgette Charpentier” is charming. Gustave Moreau’s “La Toilette” is remarkable. “June Morning in Saint-Mammès” by Alfred Sisley is beautiful. Paul Signac’s “Port of Concarneau” is vibrant. “Portrait of a Young Woman” by Paul Gauguin is striking. Paul Cézanne’s “Mont Sainte-Victoire and Château Noir” is powerful. “Spring” by Sesshū Tōyō is serene. “Views in and around the City of Kyoto” by an unknown Edo artist is historic. “Peony and Peacocks” by Maruyama Ōkyo is elegant. “Black Fan” by Fujishima Takeji is iconic. “Self-Portrait with a Hat” by Koide Narashige is unique. “Roses” by Yasui Sotaro completes this selection.
The Ishibashi Foundation Art Research Center supports the Artizon Museum. It opened in Machida in 2015. The center focuses on research and preservation. It also offers lectures and workshops.
The Artizon Museum is more than a building. It is a testament to art’s enduring power. Its ever-expanding collection invites exploration and creativity. As you leave, carry with you a sense of art’s boundless horizon.