Togyu Okumura

Background

Togyu Okumura was born on February 18, 1889 in Kyōbashi, Tokyo, Japan. His original name was Yoshizō. The name Togyū referred to a poem from his father who ran a publishing business.

Education

In 1900 Togyū Okumura completed junior school. In 1905, when he was 16 years old, he started studying Japanese painting under Kobayashi Kokei.

Career

In 1927, Togyū was accepted for the 14th Inten Exhibition for the first time. Since then, he was accepted for the other exhibitions several times.

He became a director of the Japanese fine arts institute in 1959. In 1978 he was appointed chief director of the Japanese fine arts institute.

Okumura is characterized by his works which achieve unusual, exquisite quality of colours through the application of the white gofun pigment 100 or 200 times as foundation. He painted Mount Fuji which is considered his major work and is currently in the Tokyo Imperial Palace.

Togyū Okumura died on September 25, 1990, at the age of 101, in Tokyo, Japan.

Achievements

• Togyū Okumura was best known for his painting of Mount Fuji. He was awarded the Order of Culture in 1962.

Works

More photos

• painting

  • Morning Glory

  • Kikugoro

  • Pale Plum Tree

  • Orchid

  • Cherry Blossoms at Daigo-ji Temple

  • Higoi (Red carp)

  • Old Iga Ware

  • Camellia

  • Yoshino

  • Soshun (Early spring)

  • Mt. Fuji

Connections

Friend:

Gyoshu Hayami

In 1926 Togyū Okumura made the acquaintance of Hayami Gyoshu.

teacher:

Kobayashi Kokei

References

• Togyu Okumura-Kazumasa Nakagawa. Exposition De Deux Maitres De La Peinture Japonaise Contemporaine. Musee Carnavalet 11 Septembre-14 Octobre 1990