The Presence of Sunflowers in Shinjuku
Located in the Shinjuku district of Tokyo, Japan, the Sompo Museum of Art occupies a six-storey building completed in 2020. The structure sits adjacent to the headquarters of the SOMPO insurance company. It was established in 1976 as the Seiji Togo Memorial Sompo Japan Nipponkoa Museum of Art, originally operating on the 42nd floor of the company's headquarters before its recent relocation. The institution maintains a permanent collection that includes works by several significant figures of the Post-Impressionist movement.
The most prominent work in the permanent collection is Vincent van Gogh's Sunflowers, which has been held by the museum since 1987. This specific version was painted in Arles between late November and early December 1888. It was created during the period when the artist was awaiting the arrival of Paul Gauguin. The museum holds this particular iteration of the sunflower series, which is the only version of its kind in Asia.
Collection and Composition
The museum's holdings include works that reflect the evolution of late 19th-century painting styles. The catalog records include:
- Still Life - Vase with Fourteen Sunflowers, 1889 - Vincent van Gogh
- Apples and Napkin - Paul Cézanne
- Lane at Alchamps, Arles (also known as Les Alychamps, Falling Leaves), 1888 - Paul Gauguin
Beyond these international works, the museum contains 240 pieces related to Seiji Togo, a Tokyo-based oil painter associated with the Nika Society. These works are part of the museum's ongoing effort to present both Japanese and international art through approximately five exhibitions each year.
Institutional History
The museum's identity is tied to the history of its founder and the evolution of its physical space. The institution began as a memorial to Seiji Togo and has transitioned through several architectural phases. The current building provides a modern setting for the study of the works held within its walls. Visitors can observe the specific brush strokes and color tones of the Van Gogh sunflowers, which differ from the versions held in other collections, such as the one in London.
