Ishii, Hakutei

Place: Tokyo

Born: 1882

Death: 1958

Biography:

Ishii Hakutei was a prominent Japanese yōga painter who played a significant role in the development of modern Japanese art. Born on March 28, 1882, in Tokyo, Japan, he was the eldest son of nihonga artist Ishii Teiko. Hakutei's artistic journey began with studying nihonga under his father and later yōga with Asai Chū and Nakamura Fusetsu.

Early Career and Training

Hakutei's early training also included studying under Kuroda Seiki and Fujishima Takeji at the Tokyo School of Fine Arts. However, he dropped out in his first year. Despite this, he continued to contribute works to the Bunten exhibitions and traveled extensively to Egypt, Italy, Spain, Germany, and England.

Founding of Nikakai and Issuikai

In 1914, Hakutei co-founded the Nikakai or "Society for Progressive Japanese Artists" with Yamashita Shintarō and Arishima Ikuma. He also traveled to Korea and Manchuria in 1918. Later, in 1921, he helped found the Bunka Gakuin. Two years later, he traveled to France, Italy, and England.

Later Career and Achievements

In 1935, Hakutei withdrew from the Nikakai and joined the Imperial Fine Arts Academy. The following year, he co-founded the Issuikai with Yamashita Shintarō and Yasui Sōtarō. In 1937, he became a member of the reorganized Imperial Art Academy. After the war, Hakutei contributed works to the Nitten exhibitions and became chief judge of the yōga section. He also served in a special advisory capacity after the introduction of the 1950 Law for the Protection of Cultural Properties. In December 1958, shortly before his death, he was decorated with the Order of the Rising Sun.

• Some notable works by Hakutei can be found at the Artizon Museum (Tokyo, Japan) and the Aichi Prefectural Museum of Art (Nagoya, Japan).
• Hakutei's artistic style was influenced by his studies under Kishida Ryusei and Asai Chū, both prominent yōga painters.
• For more information on Hakutei's life and works, visit the Ishii Hakutei page on Wikioo.org.
• Read about other notable Japanese artists, such as Kajima Seibei and Ishibashi Kazunori, at The Nihonga Art Movement.

References

For more information on Ishii Hakutei, visit his page on Wikipedia. You can also explore the world of Japanese art at Wikioo.org, featuring works by prominent artists such as Kishida Ryusei and Asai Chū.