Kyousai Kawanabe (河鍋 暁斎 1831–1889)

An Expert in Japanese Painting from the end of the Edo, Samurai Period

An illustration of Mount Fuji by Kyousai Kawanabe (By courtesy of the Koga Museum of History.)

Kyousai played an active part during the tumultuous times of the end of the Edo (beginning of the Meiji Era) period. He was a great master of incomparable ability who acquired knowledge and researched on all works based on the traditional Kanou painting school. Kyousai painted in total freedom on a wide range of topics including conventional painting, Ukiyoe, Giga (caricaturing) and Kyouga (painting style where half of the purpose is pure and personal entertainment.) His powerful and unique painting style is highly praised both in Europe and America. In recent years, Kyousai’s work has been part of a reassessment trend and many exhibits are being held in various places. Kyousai taught painting to many students, notably British architect Josiah Conder who left us with the Rokumeikan (鹿鳴館, or "Deer-cry Hall", a large two-story building in Tokyo completed in 1883 and which was commissioned for the housing of foreign guests.)

Japanese version of this article available here.