Tsuchida Bakusen
Encyclopedia
was the pseudonym
of a Japan
ese painter in the Nihonga
style, active during the Taishō
and early Shōwa eras. His real name was .
in Niigata prefecture
to was born into a wealthy and influential family. His elder brother was a noted philosopher. As an adolescent, Bakusen wanted to become a Buddhist monk, but was dissuaded by his parents and decided to study art instead. He was accepted as a student by painter and printmaker Takeuchi Seihō
, and later studied at the Kyoto Kaiga Senmon Gakko (present day Kyoto City University of Arts
) from which he graduated in 1911.
In 1912, after graduation, he traveled to Europe
, touring the great art museums, and returned again from 1921-1923. He was particularly fond of French Impressionism and post-impressionism
, especially the works of Paul Gauguin
, Vincent van Gogh
and Paul Cézanne
.
In 1918, Bakusen established his own art circle, together with Murakami Kagaku, called the Kokuga Sosaku Kyokai ("National Creative Painting Association"), which is used as a vehicle to disseminate his eclectic style combining western yōga
and Japanese (Nihonga) painting techniques and styles. His favorite subjects were women (bijinga
), especially portraits of maiko
, flowers and still life
. He held his own exhibition in competition to the increasingly restrictive Bunten Exhibitions in 1918, and held seven more exhibitions between 1918 and 1928.
In 1934, he was appointed to the Teikoku Bijutsuin (Imperial Art Academy
). One of his works from 1918, , now at the Tokyo National Museum of Modern Art is registered as an Important Cultural Property
(ICP) by the Agency for Cultural Affairs
. However, his painting
from 1923 is far more famous.
The town of Yahata in the Niigata Prefecture
established a Tsuchida Bakusen Commemorative Museum, which exhibits 80 of his works. Other works are on display at the Niigata City Art Museum.
His grave is at the temple of Chishaku-in in Kyoto
.
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 early Shōwa eras. His real name was .
Biography
Bakusen was born on Sado islandSado, Niigata
is a city located on Sado Island in Niigata Prefecture, in the Chūbu region of Japan. Since 2004, the city has comprised the entire island, although not all of its total area of 855.26 km2 is urbanized...
in Niigata prefecture
Niigata Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located on the island of Honshū on the coast of the Sea of Japan. The capital is the city of Niigata. The name "Niigata" literally means "new lagoon".- History :...
to was born into a wealthy and influential family. His elder brother was a noted philosopher. As an adolescent, Bakusen wanted to become a Buddhist monk, but was dissuaded by his parents and decided to study art instead. He was accepted as a student by painter and printmaker Takeuchi Seihō
Takeuchi Seiho
was the pseudonym of a Japanese painter of the nihonga genre, active from the Meiji through the early Shōwa period. One of the founders of nihonga, his works spanned half a century and he was regarded as master of the prewar Kyoto circle of painters. His real name was Takeuchi...
, and later studied at the Kyoto Kaiga Senmon Gakko (present day Kyoto City University of Arts
Kyoto City University of Arts
is a municipal university of general art and music art in Kyoto, Japan. Established in 1880, it is the oldest university of art in Japan. Among its faculty and graduates have been 16 recipients of the Order of Culture, 24 members of the Japan Art Academy, and 10 artists who have been designated...
) from which he graduated in 1911.
In 1912, after graduation, he traveled to Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, touring the great art museums, and returned again from 1921-1923. He was particularly fond of French Impressionism and post-impressionism
Post-Impressionism
Post-Impressionism is the term coined by the British artist and art critic Roger Fry in 1910 to describe the development of French art since Manet. Fry used the term when he organized the 1910 exhibition Manet and Post-Impressionism...
, especially the works of Paul Gauguin
Paul Gauguin
Eugène Henri Paul Gauguin was a leading French Post-Impressionist artist. He was an important figure in the Symbolist movement as a painter, sculptor, print-maker, ceramist, and writer...
, Vincent van Gogh
Vincent van Gogh
Vincent Willem van Gogh , and used Brabant dialect in his writing; it is therefore likely that he himself pronounced his name with a Brabant accent: , with a voiced V and palatalized G and gh. In France, where much of his work was produced, it is...
and Paul Cézanne
Paul Cézanne
Paul Cézanne was a French artist and Post-Impressionist painter whose work laid the foundations of the transition from the 19th century conception of artistic endeavour to a new and radically different world of art in the 20th century. Cézanne can be said to form the bridge between late 19th...
.
In 1918, Bakusen established his own art circle, together with Murakami Kagaku, called the Kokuga Sosaku Kyokai ("National Creative Painting Association"), which is used as a vehicle to disseminate his eclectic style combining western 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...
and Japanese (Nihonga) painting techniques and styles. His favorite subjects were women (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...
), especially portraits of maiko
Maiko
is a Japanese word for dancing girl and is an apprentice geisha. Maiko is also a feminine Japanese given name.-Possible writings:Maiko can be written using different kanji characters and can mean:*舞子 or 舞妓, apprentice geishaas a given name...
, flowers and still life
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...
. He held his own exhibition in competition to the increasingly restrictive Bunten Exhibitions in 1918, and held seven more exhibitions between 1918 and 1928.
In 1934, he was appointed to the Teikoku Bijutsuin (Imperial 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...
). One of his works from 1918, , now at the Tokyo National Museum of Modern Art is registered as an Important Cultural Property
Important Cultural Properties of Japan
The term is often shortened into just are items officially already classified as Tangible Cultural Properties of Japan by the Japanese Agency for Cultural Affairs and judged to be of particular importance to the Japanese people....
(ICP) by the Agency for Cultural Affairs
Agency for Cultural Affairs
The is a special body of the Japanese Ministry of Education . It was set up in 1968 to promote Japanese arts and culture. As of April 2007, it is led by the Commissioner for Cultural Affairs, Tamotsu Aoki....
. However, his painting
from 1923 is far more famous.
The town of Yahata in the Niigata Prefecture
Niigata Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located on the island of Honshū on the coast of the Sea of Japan. The capital is the city of Niigata. The name "Niigata" literally means "new lagoon".- History :...
established a Tsuchida Bakusen Commemorative Museum, which exhibits 80 of his works. Other works are on display at the Niigata City Art Museum.
His grave is at the temple of Chishaku-in in Kyoto
Kyoto
is a city in the central part of the island of Honshū, Japan. It has a population close to 1.5 million. Formerly the imperial capital of Japan, it is now the capital of Kyoto Prefecture, as well as a major part of the Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto metropolitan area.-History:...
.
Philately
One of Bakusen'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: Bukirinsen, commemorating the 1968 Philatelic Week