Hishida Shunso
Encyclopedia
was the pseudonym
of a Japan
ese painter from the Meiji period
. One of Okakura Tenshin
's pupils along with Yokoyama Taikan
and Shimomura Kanzan, he played a role in the Meiji era innovation of Nihonga
. His real name was Hishida Miyoji. He was also known for his numerous paintings of cat
s.
in Nagano Prefecture
. In 1889 he moved to Tokyo
to study under Kanō school
artist Yuki Masaaki (1834–1904). The following year, he enrolled at the Tōkyō Bijutsu Gakkō (the forerunner of the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music
). Shunsō was one year junior to his colleagues Yokoyama Taikan
and Shimomura Kanzan; his teacher was Hashimoto Gahō
. Shunsō, Taikan and Kanzan were heavily influenced by Okakura Tenshin
and Ernest Fenollosa
during their time at the Tōkyō Bijutsu Gakkō.
After graduation, Shunsō was commissioned by the Imperial Household Museum (now the Tokyo National Museum
) to copy important religious paintings at Buddhist
temples in Kyoto
and Nara
, and he also became a teacher at the Tōkyō Bijutsu Gakkō (present-day Tokyo University of the Arts)). In 1898, he joined Okakura Tenshin in establishing the Nihon Bijutsuin
. From 1903-1905, he traveled extensively overseas, holding exhibitions of his works in India
, the United States
and in Europe
.
After his return to Japan, Shunsō successfully competed in many national exhibitions in Japan, including the government-sponsored Bunten.
Shunsō developed a new painting method, derogatorily named by his contemporaries as moro-tai (vague style). This new method used a gradation of colors to replace the line drawings that characterized traditional Japanese-style painting. This new style, however, gained little support from Shunsō's contemporaries and was severely criticized by art critic
s. Shunsō came to realize that while moro-tai was effective in depicting such scenes as morning mist and evening glow, its color gradation technique proved good only for those limited motifs. Shunsō began integrating his original moro-tai with line drawing to overcome this disadvantage, and his later works exhibit a new style which came to typify the Nihonga genre, distinguishing it from the more restrictive styles of traditional Japanese-style painting.
In his final years, Shunsō concurrently suffered from renal and kidney disease. Driven by fear of blindness, Shunsō painted frantically whenever his illness entered a state of remission. In 1909, his work Ochiba won the highest award at the third Bunten Exhibition. It is now designated an Important Cultural Property
by the Japanese government's Agency for Cultural Affairs
and is now in the collection of the Eisei Bunko Museum
, Tokyo. His work Black Cat (1910) has also been designated an Important Cultural Property.
s by the Japanese government:
In the year 1951, Hishida Shunsō himself was the subject of a commemorative postage stamp under the Cultural Leaders Series by Japan Post.
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 from the Meiji period
Meiji period
The , also known as the Meiji era, is a Japanese era which extended from September 1868 through July 1912. This period represents the first half of the Empire of Japan.- Meiji Restoration and the emperor :...
. One of Okakura Tenshin
Okakura Kakuzo
was a Japanese scholar who contributed to the development of arts in Japan. Outside of Japan, he is chiefly remembered today as the author of The Book of Tea.-Biography:...
's pupils along 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 Shimomura Kanzan, he played a role in the Meiji era innovation of 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...
. His real name was Hishida Miyoji. He was also known for his numerous paintings of cat
Cat
The cat , also known as the domestic cat or housecat to distinguish it from other felids and felines, is a small, usually furry, domesticated, carnivorous mammal that is valued by humans for its companionship and for its ability to hunt vermin and household pests...
s.
Early life
Shunsō was born in 1874 in what is now part of Iida cityIida, Nagano
is a city located in southern Nagano Prefecture, Japan.Located on the Iida Line, an old local train line that runs through the valley of the Tenryū River in the southern Japan Alps, Iida lies 90 minutes northeast of the major city of Nagoya by automobile via the Chūō Expressway...
in Nagano Prefecture
Nagano Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region of the island of Honshū. The capital is the city of Nagano.- History :Nagano was formerly known as the province of Shinano...
. In 1889 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...
to study under Kanō school
Kano school
The ' is one of the most famous schools of Japanese painting. The Kanō school of painting was the dominant style of painting until the Meiji period.It was founded by Kanō Masanobu , a contemporary of Sesshū and student of Shūbun...
artist Yuki Masaaki (1834–1904). The following year, he enrolled at the Tōkyō Bijutsu Gakkō (the forerunner of the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music
Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music
or is one of the oldest and most prestigious art schools in Japan. Located in Ueno Park, it also has facilities in Toride, Ibaraki, Yokohama, Kanagawa, and Kitasenju, Adachi, Tokyo...
). Shunsō was one year junior to his colleagues 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 Shimomura Kanzan; his teacher was Hashimoto Gahō
Hashimoto Gaho
was a Japanese painter, one of the last to paint in the style of the Kanō school.Born in Edo, he studied painting under Kanō Shōsen'in, and was influenced as well by the work of Kanō Hōgai. He created many works in the traditional style of the Kanō school, using color & gold, or otherwise...
. Shunsō, Taikan and Kanzan were heavily influenced by Okakura Tenshin
Okakura Kakuzo
was a Japanese scholar who contributed to the development of arts in Japan. Outside of Japan, he is chiefly remembered today as the author of The Book of Tea.-Biography:...
and Ernest Fenollosa
Ernest Fenollosa
Ernest Francisco Fenollosa was an American professor of philosophy and political economy at Tokyo Imperial University...
during their time at the Tōkyō Bijutsu Gakkō.
Artistic career
Tokyo National Museum
Established 1872, the , or TNM, is the oldest and largest museum in Japan. The museum collects, houses, and preserves a comprehensive collection of art works and archaeological objects of Asia, focusing on Japan. The museum holds over 110,000 objects, which includes 87 Japanese National Treasure...
) to copy important religious paintings at Buddhist
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
temples 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:...
and Nara
Nara, Nara
is the capital city of Nara Prefecture in the Kansai region of Japan. The city occupies the northern part of Nara Prefecture, directly bordering Kyoto Prefecture...
, and he also became a teacher at the Tōkyō Bijutsu Gakkō (present-day Tokyo University of the Arts)). In 1898, he joined Okakura Tenshin in establishing the Nihon Bijutsuin
Nihon Bijutsuin
is a non-governmental artistic organization in Japan dedicated to Nihonga . The academy promotes the art of Nihonga through a biennial exhibition, the Inten Exhibition .-History:...
. From 1903-1905, he traveled extensively overseas, holding exhibitions of his works in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and in 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...
.
After his return to Japan, Shunsō successfully competed in many national exhibitions in Japan, including the government-sponsored Bunten.
Shunsō developed a new painting method, derogatorily named by his contemporaries as moro-tai (vague style). This new method used a gradation of colors to replace the line drawings that characterized traditional Japanese-style painting. This new style, however, gained little support from Shunsō's contemporaries and was severely criticized by art critic
Art critic
An art critic is a person who specializes in evaluating art. Their written critiques, or reviews, are published in newspapers, magazines, books and on web sites...
s. Shunsō came to realize that while moro-tai was effective in depicting such scenes as morning mist and evening glow, its color gradation technique proved good only for those limited motifs. Shunsō began integrating his original moro-tai with line drawing to overcome this disadvantage, and his later works exhibit a new style which came to typify the Nihonga genre, distinguishing it from the more restrictive styles of traditional Japanese-style painting.
In his final years, Shunsō concurrently suffered from renal and kidney disease. Driven by fear of blindness, Shunsō painted frantically whenever his illness entered a state of remission. In 1909, his work Ochiba won the highest award at the third Bunten Exhibition. It is now designated 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....
by the Japanese government's 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....
and is now in the collection of the Eisei Bunko Museum
Eisei Bunko Museum
The is a museum in Bunkyo-ku district in Tokyo, Japan. Its collection includes historical documents and artifacts, and works of fine art. The museum is located what was formerly the grounds of the Hosokawa clan, near the Shin-Edogawa Garden.-History:...
, Tokyo. His work Black Cat (1910) has also been designated an Important Cultural Property.
Philately
One of Hishida Shunsō's works has been 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...
s by the Japanese government:
- 1979: Black Cat, as part of the Modern Art Series
In the year 1951, Hishida Shunsō himself was the subject of a commemorative postage stamp under the Cultural Leaders Series by Japan Post.
Famous works
- 寡婦と孤児 (1895, Tokyo University of the Arts)
- 水鏡 (1897, Tokyo University of the Arts)
- 菊慈童 (1900, Iida Municipal Exhibition Hall)
- 雪後の月 (1902, Museum of Modern Art, ShigaShiga, Shigawas a town located in Shiga District, Shiga, Japan. It is on the western shore of Lake Biwa and the eastern foot of Hira Mountains.The original village called Shiga was located slightly north of Ōtsu, and merged with Ōtsu on May 10, 1932...
) - 王昭君 (1902, Yamagata 善寶寺, Important Cultural Property)
- 賢首菩薩 (1907, National Museum of Modern Art, TokyoNational Museum of Modern Art, TokyoThe in Tokyo, Japan, is the foremost museum collecting and exhibiting contemporary Japanese art.This Tokyo museum is also known by the English acronym MOMAT...
, Important Cultural Property) - 落葉 (1909, property of Eisei Bunko, entrusted to Kumamoto PrefecturalKumamoto Prefectureis a prefecture of Japan located on Kyushu Island. The capital is the city of Kumamoto.- History :Historically the area was called Higo Province; and the province was renamed Kumamoto during the Meiji Restoration. The creation of prefectures was part of the abolition of the feudal system...
Art Museum, Important Cultural Property) - 黒き猫 (1910, property of Eisei Bunko, entrusted to Kumamoto Prefectural Art Museum, Important Cultural Property)