Ogura Yuki
Encyclopedia
was a nihonga
painter in Shōwa period
Japan
. Her maiden name was Mizoguchi Yuki. She was known for her bijinga
.
, Shiga prefecture
and graduated from the Nara Women's Normal School (the predecessor of Nara Women's University
). She was employed as a school teacher, but her interest in art led her to study under noted Nihonga painter Yasuda Yukihiko
in 1920.
In 1926, her painting Kyuri ("Cucumbers") was selected for an Inten Exhibition by the Japan Fine Arts Academy (Nihon Bijutsu-in) . Ogura became the first female member of the Japan Fine Arts Academy in 1932. She specialized in graceful family scenes, still life
, and pictures of women
. During the 1950s and 1960s, she painted many large portraits
of friends and family members in the nude. Although Ogura never departed from the traditional framework of the Nihonga style, her figure paintings are often described by contemporary critics as "modern," both in style and content.
A very prolific artist, in 1976, she was selected to become a member of the Japan Art Academy
(Nihon Geijitsu-in), and later become honorary chairperson of that organization. She was awarded the Order of Culture
in 1980, and is one of only two women painters (the other being fellow Nihonga painter Uemura Shōen
) to be so honored.
Her studio and home were located Kamakura
, where she lived to the advanced age of 105.
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...
painter in Shōwa period
Showa period
The , or Shōwa era, is the period of Japanese history corresponding to the reign of the Shōwa Emperor, Hirohito, from December 25, 1926 through January 7, 1989.The Shōwa period was longer than the reign of any previous Japanese emperor...
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...
. Her maiden name was Mizoguchi Yuki. She was known for her bijinga
Bijinga
Bijinga , is a generic term for pictures of beautiful women in Japanese art, especially in woodblock printing of the ukiyo-e genre, which predate photography...
.
Biography
Ogura was born in Ōtsu cityOtsu, Shiga
is the capital city of Shiga, Japan. The city was founded on October 1, 1898. As of October 1, 2010, the city has an estimated population of 338,629 with an average age of 40.7 years and a population density of 905.28 persons per km²...
, Shiga prefecture
Shiga Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan, which forms part of the Kansai region on Honshu Island. The capital is the city of Ōtsu.- History :Shiga was known as Ōmi Province or Gōshū before the prefectural system was established...
and graduated from the Nara Women's Normal School (the predecessor of Nara Women's University
Nara Women's University
Nara Women's University , is one of two national women's universities in Japan, located in Nara. The other one is the Ochanomizu University.-Overview:...
). She was employed as a school teacher, but her interest in art led her to study under noted Nihonga painter Yasuda Yukihiko
Yasuda Yukihiko
was the pseudonym of a major figure in Taishō and early Shōwa period Japanese painting, and is regarded as one of the founders of the Japanese painting technique of nihonga. His real name was Yasuda Shinzaburō.-Career:...
in 1920.
Still life
A still life is a work of art depicting mostly inanimate subject matter, typically commonplace objects which may be either natural or man-made...
, and pictures of women
Bijinga
Bijinga , is a generic term for pictures of beautiful women in Japanese art, especially in woodblock printing of the ukiyo-e genre, which predate photography...
. During the 1950s and 1960s, she painted many large portraits
Portrait painting
Portrait painting is a genre in painting, where the intent is to depict the visual appearance of the subject. Beside human beings, animals, pets and even inanimate objects can be chosen as the subject for a portrait...
of friends and family members in the nude. Although Ogura never departed from the traditional framework of the Nihonga style, her figure paintings are often described by contemporary critics as "modern," both in style and content.
A very prolific artist, in 1976, she was selected to become a member of the Japan Art Academy
Japan Art Academy
is the highest ranking artistic organization in Japan. The Academy discusses art-related issues, advises the Minister of Education on art-related issues, and promotes art is the highest ranking artistic organization in Japan. The Academy discusses art-related issues, advises the Minister of...
(Nihon Geijitsu-in), and later become honorary chairperson of that organization. She 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...
in 1980, and is one of only two women painters (the other being fellow Nihonga painter Uemura Shōen
Uemura Shoen
was the pseudonym of an important woman artist in Meiji, Taishō and early Shōwa period Japanese painting. Her real name was Uemura Tsune. Shōen was known primarily for her bijinga paintings of beautiful women in the nihonga style, although she also produced numerous works on historical themes and...
) to be so honored.
Her studio and home were located Kamakura
Kamakura, Kanagawa
is a city located in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, about south-south-west of Tokyo. It used to be also called .Although Kamakura proper is today rather small, it is often described in history books as a former de facto capital of Japan as the seat of the Shogunate and of the Regency during the...
, where she lived to the advanced age of 105.
Famous works
- Yuami Onna ("Bathing Women", 1938)
- Oyako ("Mother and Child", 1961)
- Maiko ("Apprentice Geisha", 1962)