Kawabata Ryushi
Encyclopedia
was the pseudonym
of a Japan
ese painter in the Nihonga
style, active during the Taishō
and Shōwa eras. His real name was Kawabata Shotarō.
Ryūshi was born in Wakayama city
in Wakayama prefecture
. He moved to Tokyo
in 1895. Initially interested in literature, he studied under the poet Kawabata Hoja, who introduced him to the Hototogisu
artistic circle. He then became interested in painting instead, and studied Yōga
painting techniques as an apprentice in the studios of the Hakubakai. When he was 18, he entered a Yomiuri Shimbun
illustration contest, from which his work was selected. He continued working on newspaper illustrations to earn a living as he studied oil painting
. In 1913, he traveled to the United States
to study western-style painting techniques in more depth, but was so impressed with the Japanese art that he saw during a visit to the Boston Museum of Fine Arts
that he switched to the Nihonga
genre on his return to Japan in 1914, displaying at the Inten Exhibition in 1915. He left Inten in 1928 in protest of its increasing rigid rules, and established his own Nihonga art circle, the Seiryusha in 1928. The Seiryusha held an exhibition on competition to the Inten twice a year from 1929 to 1965 in Tokyo. In addition, Ryūshi usually held a personal exhibition in Osaka
once per year.
Ryūshi was a major advocate of , which emphasized the public nature of art. His works therefore tended to be on a huge scale, and were intended for public display in large areas.
After World War II
, together with Yokoyama Taikan
and Kawai Gyokudō
, he came to be regarded as one the "Three Big Figures" in the field of Nihonga painting.
In 1950, after the death of his wife and son, he went on a pilgrimage of the 88 holy places
in Shikoku
, taking a total of six years to make the circuit, and sketching extensively along the way. In 1959, he was awarded the Order of Culture
by the Japanese government.
In 1963, shortly before his death, his house in Ōta, Tokyo
was transformed into the Kawabata Ryushi Memorial Museum. It was donated to the city of Tokyo by his heirs in 1990, and contains most of his larger works.
by the Japanese government:
Art-name
An art-name is a pseudonym, or penname, used by an East Asian artist, which they sometimes change. The word and the idea to use a pseudonym originated from China, then became popular in other East Asian countries ....
of a Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese painter in the Nihonga
Nihonga
or literally "Japanese-style paintings" is a term used to describe paintings that have been made in accordance with traditional Japanese artistic conventions, techniques and materials...
style, active during the Taishō
Taisho period
The , or Taishō era, is a period in the history of Japan dating from July 30, 1912 to December 25, 1926, coinciding with the reign of the Taishō Emperor. The health of the new emperor was weak, which prompted the shift in political power from the old oligarchic group of elder statesmen to the Diet...
and Shōwa eras. His real name was Kawabata Shotarō.
Ryūshi was born in Wakayama city
Wakayama, Wakayama
is the capital city of Wakayama Prefecture in the Kansai region of Japan.-Background:Wakayama occupies 4% of the land area and has 40% of Wakayama prefecture's population. The city was founded on April 1, 1889....
in Wakayama prefecture
Wakayama Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located on the Kii Peninsula in the Kansai region on Honshū island. The capital is the city of Wakayama.- History :Present-day Wakayama is mostly the western part of the province of Kii.- 1953 Wakayama Prefecture flood disaster :...
. He moved to Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
in 1895. Initially interested in literature, he studied under the poet Kawabata Hoja, who introduced him to the Hototogisu
Hototogisu
Hototogisu may refer to:*Lesser Cuckoo , a bird native to Japan*Hototogisu , a literary magazine*Hototogisu , a 1922 Japanese film*Hototogisu , a video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System...
artistic circle. He then became interested in painting instead, and studied Yōga
Yoga (art)
or literally "Western-style paintings" is a term used to describe paintings by Japanese artists that have been made in accordance with Western traditional conventions, techniques and materials...
painting techniques as an apprentice in the studios of the Hakubakai. When he was 18, he entered a Yomiuri Shimbun
Yomiuri Shimbun
The is a Japanese newspaper published in Tokyo, Osaka, Fukuoka, and other major Japanese cities. It is one of the five national newspapers in Japan; the other four are the Asahi Shimbun, the Mainichi Shimbun, Nihon Keizai Shimbun, and the Sankei Shimbun...
illustration contest, from which his work was selected. He continued working on newspaper illustrations to earn a living as he studied oil painting
Oil painting
Oil painting is the process of painting with pigments that are bound with a medium of drying oil—especially in early modern Europe, linseed oil. Often an oil such as linseed was boiled with a resin such as pine resin or even frankincense; these were called 'varnishes' and were prized for their body...
. In 1913, he traveled to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to study western-style painting techniques in more depth, but was so impressed with the Japanese art that he saw during a visit to the Boston Museum of Fine Arts
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
The Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, Massachusetts, is one of the largest museums in the United States, attracting over one million visitors a year. It contains over 450,000 works of art, making it one of the most comprehensive collections in the Americas...
that he switched to the Nihonga
Nihonga
or literally "Japanese-style paintings" is a term used to describe paintings that have been made in accordance with traditional Japanese artistic conventions, techniques and materials...
genre on his return to Japan in 1914, displaying at the Inten Exhibition in 1915. He left Inten in 1928 in protest of its increasing rigid rules, and established his own Nihonga art circle, the Seiryusha in 1928. The Seiryusha held an exhibition on competition to the Inten twice a year from 1929 to 1965 in Tokyo. In addition, Ryūshi usually held a personal exhibition in Osaka
Osaka
is a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshu, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe...
once per year.
Ryūshi was a major advocate of , which emphasized the public nature of art. His works therefore tended to be on a huge scale, and were intended for public display in large areas.
After World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, together with Yokoyama Taikan
Yokoyama Taikan
was the pseudonym of a major figure in Meiji, Taishō and early Shōwa period Japanese painting. He is notable for helping create the Japanese painting technique of Nihonga. His real name was Yokoyama Hidemaro.-Early life:...
and Kawai Gyokudō
Kawai Gyokudo
was the pseudonym of a Japanese painter in the nihonga school, active from Meiji through Shōwa period Japan. His real name was Kawai Yoshisaburō....
, he came to be regarded as one the "Three Big Figures" in the field of Nihonga painting.
In 1950, after the death of his wife and son, he went on a pilgrimage of the 88 holy places
Shikoku Pilgrimage
The or is a multi-site pilgrimage of 88 temples associated with the Buddhist monk Kūkai on the island of Shikoku, Japan. A popular and distinctive feature of the island's cultural landscape, and with a long history, large numbers of pilgrims still undertake the journey for a variety of ascetic,...
in Shikoku
Shikoku
is the smallest and least populous of the four main islands of Japan, located south of Honshū and east of the island of Kyūshū. Its ancient names include Iyo-no-futana-shima , Iyo-shima , and Futana-shima...
, taking a total of six years to make the circuit, and sketching extensively along the way. In 1959, he was awarded the Order of Culture
Order of Culture
The is a Japanese order, established on February 11, 1937. The order has one class only, and may be awarded to men and women for contributions to Japan's art, literature or culture; recipients of the order also receive an annuity for life...
by the Japanese government.
In 1963, shortly before his death, his house in Ōta, Tokyo
Ota, Tokyo
is one of the 23 Special wards of Tokyo, Japan.As of May 1, 2011, the ward has an estimated population of 676,458, with 348,492 households, and a population density of 11,376.69 persons per km²...
was transformed into the Kawabata Ryushi Memorial Museum. It was donated to the city of Tokyo by his heirs in 1990, and contains most of his larger works.
Philately
One of Ryūshi's works was selected as the subject of a commemorative postage stampCommemorative stamp
A commemorative stamp is a postage stamp, often issued on a significant date such as an anniversary, to honor or commemorate a place, event or person. The subject of the commemorative stamp is usually spelled out in print, unlike definitive stamps which normally depict the subject along with the...
by the Japanese government:
- 1979: Aizen ("Passion"), commemorating the 61st Inter-Parliamentary Conference