Yumeji Art Museum is dedicated to Yumeji Takehisa (1884 - 1934), who became are of the most famous _ painter during taisho era. He was also poet and designer. Yumeji Takehisa, widely known as the Japanese Lautrec, due to his delicate depiction in his art, was the driving force behind “Taisho Roman” (the cultural phenomena during the Taisho period where the modern European art style Romanticism blended with the traditional Japanese culture). Yumeji Art Museum (Main) has the best collection of Yumeji Takehisa, and was first founded and directed by Motoi Matsuda who was one of avid collectors of Yumeji’s artwork.
Matsuda understood during Yumeji’s strong yearning and nostalgia for his hometown, after leaving Okayama at the age of 16. Therefore in 1966, Matsuda decided to establish the Yumeji Art Museum with the idea of ‘bringing Yumeji back to his hometown’.
Yumeji Art Mueum consists of three buildings: the Main art museum, Yumeji Birthplace Memorial Museum and Shonensanso. Yumeji Art Museum (Mailn) is situated next to Okayama’s famous Korakuen Garden whereas his childhood home, "Yumeji Birthplace Memorial Museum," and his atelier "Shonensanso" are located on Setouchi City, Yumeji’s birth town where 30 minutes by car from Yumeji Art Museum (Main).
This is a great chance to plunge into Yumeji’s fascinating world and fully enjoy his artwork by getting a closer look into his life and his picturesque hometown.