Tomita Keisen

Background

Tomita Keisen was born on December 9, 1879 in Fukuoka, Japan. He was born to a family of restaurateurs who also made sōmen.

Education

His artistic training began with Kinugasa Morimasa (1852-1912), the official painter for the Kuroda clan and a follower of the Kanō school. In 1896, he went to Kyōto to continue his education with Tsuji Kakō, who was a follower of the Shijō school. During this period, he exhibited at the Japan Painting Association and several other venues.

Career

In 1915, Yokoyama Taikan invited him to participate in an exhibition held by the Nihon Bijutsuin, after which he was named an associate member of that organization. He always remained more devoted to the prevailing styles in Kyōto, however, and began to show some influence from the nanga style. He became progressively interested in landscapes and created Eight Views of Saga. In 1923, through the mediation of novelist Yamanouchi Yoshio, he was introduced to the Ambassador from France, Paul Claudel, who was also a poet. Together, they produced some illustrated collections of poetry.

In 1931, he paid a visit to Berlin to attend the "Ausstellung japanische Malerei". Four years later, he was elected a member of the Japan Art Academy.

Works

More photos

• painting

  • Wind

  • Fruits and Flowers of the Seasons

  • Thunder

  • Autumn in Ohara

  • painting

  • painting

  • painting

  • painting

  • painting

Religion

Tomita Keisen was deeply interested in both Christianity and Zen Buddhism and travelled about, to China and Okinawa and, notably, to Nara to study the Heian period Buddhist images.

Membership

• Japan Art Academy

  1935

References

• Tomita Keisen: Kyōto gadan no isai Japanese Edition
  1985