Shigeru Aoki
Encyclopedia
was a Japanese
painter, noted for his work in combining Japanese legends and religious subjects with the yōga
(Western-style) art movement in late 19th- and early 20th-century Japanese painting
.
class household in Kurume
, in northern Kyūshū
, Japan, where his father had been a retainer of the Arima clan
daimyō
of Kurume Domain
. Although his family strongly disapproved of his interest in art, he left home in 1899 to pursue his studies in Tokyo
, first with Koyama Shotaro, a pupil of the Italian foreign advisor
Antonio Fontanesi, who had been hired by the Meiji government in the late 1870s to introduce western oil painting
to Japan. From 1900 he became a pupil of Kuroda Seiki
, then an instructor at the Tokyo Bijutsu Gakkō (present-day Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music
). In the autumn of 1902, he travelled to Mount Myōgi
in Gunma Prefecture
and to Nagano Prefecture
on a sketching excursion. After his return, he displayed some of his completed works at Kuroda's 8th Hakuba-kai Exhibition, where his use of the techniques of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood
combined with themes from the Kojiki
resulted in great critical acclaim.
Aoki finished his studies in 1904. In August 1905, he relocated to what is now Chikusei, Ibaraki
, where he had a son by his common law wife Tane Fukuda. The son (Rando Fukuda, 1905–1976) would later become a noted shakuhachi
musician. However, Fukuda returned home to take care of her ill father in August 1907, the relationship came to an end. From October 1908, he abandoned his house and went on an extended painting trip, creating numerous works, but never settling in any location for an extended period of time. In March 1911, he checked into a hospital in Fukuoka
suffering from tuberculosis
, where he died at the age of 28.
A number of Aoki's works have been collected by the Ishibashi Museum of Art in his hometown of Kurume, two of which have been recognized by the Japanese government's Agency for Cultural Affairs
as Important Cultural Properties
.
, 1907 (Ishibashi Museum of Art), National Important Cultural Property.http://www.ishibashi-museum.gr.jp/collections/a.html
Japanese people
The are an ethnic group originating in the Japanese archipelago and are the predominant ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide, approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent; of these, approximately 127 million are residents of Japan. People of Japanese ancestry who live in other countries...
painter, noted for his work in combining Japanese legends and religious subjects with the 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...
(Western-style) art movement in late 19th- and early 20th-century Japanese painting
Japanese painting
is one of the oldest and most highly refined of the Japanese visual arts, encompassing a wide variety of genres and styles. As with the history of Japanese arts in general, the long history of Japanese painting exhibits synthesis and competition between native Japanese aesthetics and adaptation of...
.
Biography
Aoki was born to an ex-samuraiSamurai
is the term for the military nobility of pre-industrial Japan. According to translator William Scott Wilson: "In Chinese, the character 侍 was originally a verb meaning to wait upon or accompany a person in the upper ranks of society, and this is also true of the original term in Japanese, saburau...
class household in Kurume
Kurume, Fukuoka
is a city located in Fukuoka prefecture, Japan.The city has an estimated population of 303,277 and a population density of 1,319.51 persons per km²...
, in northern Kyūshū
Kyushu
is the third largest island of Japan and most southwesterly of its four main islands. Its alternate ancient names include , , and . The historical regional name is referred to Kyushu and its surrounding islands....
, Japan, where his father had been a retainer of the Arima clan
Arima clan
The was a Japanese feudal daimyo family dating to the Sengoku period. Its name "Arima," transliterates as "has horses," reflecting the samurai/cavalry origins of the family. Famous members include Arima Harunobu and Arima Naozumi....
daimyō
Daimyo
is a generic term referring to the powerful territorial lords in pre-modern Japan who ruled most of the country from their vast, hereditary land holdings...
of Kurume Domain
Kurume Domain
The ' was a Japanese domain of the Edo period, ruled by the Arima clan. It was located in Chikugo Province .The Arima clan became viscounts in the Meiji era.-List of lords:* Arima clan 1620-1871...
. Although his family strongly disapproved of his interest in art, he left home in 1899 to pursue his studies in 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...
, first with Koyama Shotaro, a pupil of the Italian foreign advisor
O-yatoi gaikokujin
The Foreign government advisors in Meiji Japan, known in Japanese as oyatoi gaikokujin , were those foreign advisors hired by the Japanese government for their specialized knowledge to assist in the modernization of Japan at the end of the Bakufu and during the Meiji era. The term is sometimes...
Antonio Fontanesi, who had been hired by the Meiji government in the late 1870s to introduce western 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...
to Japan. From 1900 he became a pupil of Kuroda Seiki
Kuroda Seiki
Viscount was the pseudonym of a Japanese painter and teacher, noted for bringing Western theories about art to a wide Japanese audience. He was among the leaders of the yōga movement in late 19th- and early 20th-century Japanese painting...
, then an instructor at the Tokyo Bijutsu Gakkō (present-day 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...
). In the autumn of 1902, he travelled to Mount Myōgi
Mount Myogi
is one of the major mountains in the Gunma Prefecture, Japan. Well known for its rocks weathered into fantastic forms, this famous peak is ranked among Japan's three most noted places of rugged beauty...
in Gunma Prefecture
Gunma Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the northwest corner of the Kantō region on Honshu island. Its capital is Maebashi.- History :The remains of a Paleolithic man were found at Iwajuku, Gunma Prefecture, in the early 20th century and there is a public museum there.Japan was without horses until...
and to 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...
on a sketching excursion. After his return, he displayed some of his completed works at Kuroda's 8th Hakuba-kai Exhibition, where his use of the techniques of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood
Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood
The Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood was a group of English painters, poets, and critics, founded in 1848 by William Holman Hunt, John Everett Millais and Dante Gabriel Rossetti...
combined with themes from the Kojiki
Kojiki
is the oldest extant chronicle in Japan, dating from the early 8th century and composed by Ō no Yasumaro at the request of Empress Gemmei. The Kojiki is a collection of myths concerning the origin of the four home islands of Japan, and the Kami...
resulted in great critical acclaim.
Aoki finished his studies in 1904. In August 1905, he relocated to what is now Chikusei, Ibaraki
Chikusei, Ibaraki
is a city located in Ibaraki, Japan. The city was founded March 28, 2005 from the merger of the towns of Akeno, Kyōwa and Sekijō, and the old city of Shimodate, all from the Makabe District, ....
, where he had a son by his common law wife Tane Fukuda. The son (Rando Fukuda, 1905–1976) would later become a noted shakuhachi
Shakuhachi
The is a Japanese end-blown flute. It is traditionally made of bamboo, but versions now exist in ABS and hardwoods. It was used by the monks of the Fuke school of Zen Buddhism in the practice of...
musician. However, Fukuda returned home to take care of her ill father in August 1907, the relationship came to an end. From October 1908, he abandoned his house and went on an extended painting trip, creating numerous works, but never settling in any location for an extended period of time. In March 1911, he checked into a hospital in Fukuoka
Fukuoka
Fukuoka most often refers to the capital city of Fukuoka Prefecture.It can also refer to:-Locations:* Fukuoka, Gifu, a town in Gifu Prefecture, Japan* Fukuoka, Toyama, a town in Toyama Prefecture, Japan...
suffering from tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
, where he died at the age of 28.
A number of Aoki's works have been collected by the Ishibashi Museum of Art in his hometown of Kurume, two of which have been recognized 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....
as Important Cultural Properties
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....
.
Noted works
, 1903, Tokyo University of the Arts http://db.am.geidai.ac.jp/object.cgi?id=3458, 1904, Bridgestone Art Museum, 1904, Ishibashi Museum of Art, National Important Cultural Property. http://www.ishibashi-museum.gr.jp/collections/a.html, 1905, Ishibashi Museum of Art, 1906, Tokyo National MuseumTokyo 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...
, 1907 (Ishibashi Museum of Art), National Important Cultural Property.http://www.ishibashi-museum.gr.jp/collections/a.html