About the Setsuko Mitsuhashi Museum of Art

The exhibition of this museum was made possible through the generous donation of works of the artist Setsuko Mitsuhashi by a large number of people, including from the family of the deceased painter.

Setsuko Mitsuhashi moved to the base of Mount Nagara upon her marriage in 1968. In this area, filled with the spirit of elegance and rich in nature and history, she found the ideal inspirations for her works of that time such as “Sendango-san” and “Kishimojin”.

In 1973 a tumor was discovered on her right shoulder’s collarbone, and her right arm had to be amputated. For a painter this usually means the end of one’s career, and in addition to this hardship, she knew that she did not have much longer to live.

Despite all this, her eagerness to draw was as strong as ever, leading her to learn how to paint with her left hand. In the remaining two years until her untimely passing in 1975 at age 35, she created a wide variety of paintings, such as “Hanaoretoge” and “Mii no Bansho”.

Her paintings center on motifs of the Omi-region (present day Shiga Prefecture), such as Lake Biwa and its surrounding nature. The love and affection for her family, which she knew she would have to leave behind, is portrayed through her paintings which move the hearts of spectators from all across the country.

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