23.  Painting the Nation: Nihonga and Yôga

 

Yôga 洋画 (Western-style Painting)

Takahashi Yuichi (1828-94).

Oiran. About 1872.   Oil, canvas; 30 ½ x 21 5/8 in (77.5 x 55 cm).  Tokyo University of Fine Arts and Music. [Mason, fig. 441]

Antonio Fontanesi (1812-82).

Shinobazu Pond .   1876-78. Oil, canvas; 20 ½ x 28 7/8 in. (52 x 73.3 cm).   Tokyo National Museum. BARBIZON SCHOOL. [Mason, fig. 442]

Compare with photograph of Shinobazu Pond, Ueno Park, Tokyo

Asai Chû (1856-1907).

Harvest. 1890. Oil, canvas; 27 ¼ x 37 7/8 in (69 x 98.5 cm). Tokyo University of Fine Arts and Music. [Mason, fig. 444]

Autumn at Grez.   1901. Oil, canvas; 31 ¼ x 23 5/8 in (79.5 x 60 cm.). Tokyo National Museum. [Mason, fig. 445]

Yamamoto Hôsui (1850-1906)

Nude. 1880. Oil, canvas; 32 5/8 x 52 7/8 in. (83 x 134.4 cm). The Museum of Fine Arts, Gifu. [Mason, fig. 443]

Compare with Jean Leon Gerome, Pygmalian and Galatea.   c. 1880. Oil on canvas.

Kuroda Seiki (1866-1924).

Morning Toilet. 1893. Oil on canvas; 70 1/4 x 38 5/8 in. (178.5 x 98 cm.) (destroyed) [Mason, fig. 446]

Compare with Mary Cassat.  The Boating Party.   1884. Oil on canvas.

Aoki Shigeru (1882-1911).  

Ladies of the Nara Court, Tempyo Era.   1904. Oil on canvas.  

Compare with Paul Cezanne.   The Bathers .   1898-1905.

Palace Under the Sea.   1907. Oil, canvas; 71 7/8 x 27 ½ in (181.5 x 70 cm.). Ishibashi Museum of Art. [Mason, fig. 447]

Umehara Ryûzaburô (1888-1986).

Tsu Chin Palace.   1940. Oil, canvas; 45 ¼ x 59 in. (112.4 x 149.9 cm). Eisei Bunko Foundation [Mason, fig. 452]

Compare with:   Vincent van Gogh.   Starry Night.   1889. Oil on canvas.

Kishida Ryûsei (1891-1929)

Reiko with a Woolen Shawl.   1920. Oil, canvas; 17 3/8 x 14 ¾ in. Tokyo National Museum. (44.2 x 36.4 cm.). [Mason, fig. 449]

Nihonga 日本画 (Japanese Painting)

Ernest Fenollosa and Okakura Tenshin.

Ryûchi Society 龍池会 (Dragon Lake Society).   Founded 1879.

National Treasure Office. 国宝　 Established 1888.

Okakura's “Six Principles:”

•  Whatever painters took from the West must be assimilated into their unconscious and become part of them, and not just a borrowed style

•  Painters must master ancient techniques

•  The painters' passion should breathe spirit into their work

•  Originality counts for more than refined technique

•  Art must be full of dignity and nobility

•  Historical painting and ukiyo-e genres typify nihonga

Kanô Hogai (1828-1888)

Fudo Myoo.   1887. Hanging scroll, color, paper; 62 3/8 x 31 1/8 in.  Tokyo University of Fine Arts and Music. [Mason, fig. 430]

Hashimoto Gahô (1835-1908)

White Clouds, Red Leaves.   1890.   Hanging scroll, color, paper; 103 x 63 in. (2.65 x 1.59 m).   Tokyo University of Fine Arts and Music. [Mason, fig. 431]

Shimomura Kanzan (1873-1930)

The Beggar Monk.   1915.   Pair of 6-panel screens, color and gold lead on paper; each screen 73 5/8 x 160 ½ in (187.5 x 407 cm).   Tokyo National Museum. [Mason, fig. 433]

Hishida Shunsho (1874-1911)

Fallen Leaves.   1909.   Color on paper, Pair of 2-panel screens; each screen 60 x 60 in. (152 x 152 cm).   Private collection, Tokyo. [Mason, fig. 432]

Uemura Shôen (1875-1949)

Evening.   1941.   Color on silk; 84 ½ x 42 in. (214.5 x 99 cm).   Private collection. [Mason, fig. 439]