Takeuchi Seiho
Encyclopedia
was the pseudonym
of a Japan
ese 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 Tsunekichi.
of the Maruyama-Shijo school
of traditional painting. In 1882, two of his works received awards at the Naikoku Kaiga Kyoshinkai (Domestic Painting Competition), one of the first modern painting competitions in Japan, which launched him on his career.
During the Exposition Universelle
in Paris
(1900), he toured Europe
, where he studied Western art. After returning to Japan he established a unique style, combining the realist techniques of the traditional Japanese Maruyama–Shijo school with Western forms of realism borrowed from the techniques of Turner
and Corot
. This subsequently became one of the principal styles of modern Nihonga. His favorite subjects were animals -often in amusing poses, such as a monkey riding on a horse. He was also noted for his landscapes.
From the start of the Bunten exhibitions in 1907, Seihō served on the judging committee. In 1909 he became a professor at the Kyoto Municipal College of Painting (the forerunner to the Kyoto City University of Arts
). Seihō also established his own private school, the Chikujokai. Many of his students later went on to establish themselves as noted artists, inclyding Tokuoka Shinsen and Uemura Shōen
.
In 1913, Seihō was appointed as a court painter
to the Imperial Household Agency
, and in 1919 was nominated to the Imperial Fine Arts Academy (Teikoku Bijutsuin). He was one of the first persons to be awarded the Order of Culture
when it was established in 1937.
He initially used the characters
棲鳳 for the first name of his pseudonym, and this name was possibly pronounced as Saihō.
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 of 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...
genre, active from the Meiji through the early 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...
. One of the founders of nihonga, his works spanned half a century and he was regarded as master of the prewar 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:...
circle of painters. His real name was Takeuchi Tsunekichi.
Career
Seihō was born in Kyoto. As a child, he loved to draw and wanted to become an artist. He was a disciple of Kōno BaireiKōno Bairei
was a Japanese painter, book illustrator and art teacher. He was born and lived in Kyoto. He was a member of the Ukiyo-e school, and was a master of kacho-e painting in the Meiji period of Japan....
of the Maruyama-Shijo school
Shijo school
The Shijō school , also known as the Maruyama-Shijō school, was an offshoot school of the Maruyama school of Japanese painting founded by Maruyama Ōkyo, and his former student Matsumura Goshun in the late 18th century. This school was one of several that made up the larger Kyoto school...
of traditional painting. In 1882, two of his works received awards at the Naikoku Kaiga Kyoshinkai (Domestic Painting Competition), one of the first modern painting competitions in Japan, which launched him on his career.
During the Exposition Universelle
Exposition Universelle (1900)
The Exposition Universelle of 1900 was a world's fair held in Paris, France, from April 15 to November 12, 1900, to celebrate the achievements of the past century and to accelerate development into the next...
in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
(1900), he toured 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...
, where he studied Western art. After returning to Japan he established a unique style, combining the realist techniques of the traditional Japanese Maruyama–Shijo school with Western forms of realism borrowed from the techniques of Turner
J. M. W. Turner
Joseph Mallord William Turner RA was an English Romantic landscape painter, watercolourist and printmaker. Turner was considered a controversial figure in his day, but is now regarded as the artist who elevated landscape painting to an eminence rivalling history painting...
and Corot
Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot
Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot was a French landscape painter and printmaker in etching. Corot was the leading painter of the Barbizon school of France in the mid-nineteenth century...
. This subsequently became one of the principal styles of modern Nihonga. His favorite subjects were animals -often in amusing poses, such as a monkey riding on a horse. He was also noted for his landscapes.
From the start of the Bunten exhibitions in 1907, Seihō served on the judging committee. In 1909 he became a professor at the Kyoto Municipal College of Painting (the forerunner to the 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...
). Seihō also established his own private school, the Chikujokai. Many of his students later went on to establish themselves as noted artists, inclyding Tokuoka Shinsen and 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...
.
In 1913, Seihō was appointed as a court painter
Court painter
A court painter was an artist who painted for the members of a royal or noble family, sometimes on a fixed salary and on an exclusive basis where the artist was not supposed to undertake other work. Especially in the late Middle Ages, they were often given the office of valet de chambre...
to the Imperial Household Agency
Imperial Household Agency
The is a government agency of Japan in charge of the state matters concerning Japan's imperial family and also keeping the Privy Seal and the State Seal...
, and in 1919 was nominated to the Imperial Fine Arts Academy (Teikoku Bijutsuin). He was one of the first persons to be 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...
when it was established in 1937.
He initially used the characters
Kanji
Kanji are the adopted logographic Chinese characters hanzi that are used in the modern Japanese writing system along with hiragana , katakana , Indo Arabic numerals, and the occasional use of the Latin alphabet...
棲鳳 for the first name of his pseudonym, and this name was possibly pronounced as Saihō.
Important works
- 斑猫 (1924, Yamatane MuseumYamatane MuseumThe Yamatane Museum is a museum in Japan specializing in the nihonga style of Japanese watercolour painting. It is run by the Yamatane art foundation....
, Important Cultural PropertyImportant Cultural Properties of JapanThe 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....
） - 平家驚禽声逃亡 Tokyo National MuseumTokyo National MuseumEstablished 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...
） - 秋興 (1927, Kyoto National Museum of Modern Art）
- 雨霽 (1907, Tokyo National Museum of Modern Art）
- アレ夕立に (1909, 高島屋史料館）
- 絵になる最初 (1913, Kyoto Municipal Museum of ArtKyoto Municipal Museum of ArtThe is an art museum in the city of Kyoto which opened in 1933. It was conceived in 1928 as a commemoration of the Showa emperor's coronation ceremony, and it was initially called the Showa Imperial Coronation Art Museum of Kyoto....
） - 薫風稚雀・寒汀白鷺 (1928, Imperial Household AgencyImperial Household AgencyThe is a government agency of Japan in charge of the state matters concerning Japan's imperial family and also keeping the Privy Seal and the State Seal...
, sannomaru shozokan） - 群鵜 (1913, Kachu'an Takeuchi Seiho Memorial gallery）
Notable pupils
- Uemura ShōenUemura Shoenwas 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...
- Ono Chikkyō
- Tsuchida BakusenTsuchida Bakusenwas the pseudonym of a Japanese painter in the Nihonga style, active during the Taishō and early Shōwa eras. His real name was .- Biography :...
- Nishimura Go'un (西村五雲)
- Hashimoto KansetsuHashimoto KansetsuIn this Japanese name, the family name is Hashimoto.Hashimoto Kansetsu was a painter of nihonga who was active in the Kyoto art world during the Showa and Taisho eras....
(橋本関雪)