Tsuchida Bakusen

Infobox Artist
name = Tsuchida Bakusen


imagesize = 180px
caption = Tsuchida Bakusen
birthname = Tsuchida Kinji
birthdate = 9 February 1887
location = Sado, Niigata, Japan
deathdate = 10 June 1936
deathplace =
nationality = Japanese
field = Painter
training =
movement = Nihonga
works =
patrons =
awards = nihongo|Bakusen Tsuchida|土田麦僊|Tsuchida Bakusen|extra=9 February 1887 - 10 June 1936 was the pseudonym of a Japanese painter in the "Nihonga" style, active during the Taishō and early Showa eras. His real name was Tsuchida Kinji.

Bakusen was born on Sado island 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 Seiho, 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 Cezanne.

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 [yoga (art)|"yoga") 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, nihongo|"Prostitute"|湯女図|Yunazu, 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 nihongo|"Maiko in Garden"|舞妓林泉|Bukirinsen 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.

Philately

One of Bakusen's works was selected as the subject of a commemorative postage stamp by the Japanese government:

* 1979: "Bukirinsen", commemorating the 1968 Philatelic Week

External links

* [http://www.adachi-museum.or.jp/e/c_bakusen.html Biography and example from Adachi Art Museum]

References

* Conant, Ellen P., Rimer, J. Thomas, Owyoung, Stephen. "Nihonga: Transcending the Past: Japanese-Style Painting, 1868-1968". Weatherhill (1996). ISBN 0834803631

Infobox Painting|

title= nihongo|"Maiko in Landscape"|舞妓林泉|Bukirinsen
artist=Tsuchida Bakusen
year=1924
type=Nihonga
height= 217.7 cm
width= 102.0 cm
height_inch=
width_inch =
city=Tokyo
museum=Tokyo National Museum of Modern Art