Lot 347: Kimura Buzan (1875-1942) Meiji/Taisho Period

Meiji/Taisho Period
Kakejiku, in ink and slight colour on silk, with an evocative image of delicate maple leaves drifting over a river, a lone figure on a bridge wearing a mino (straw rain coat) rushing for shelter in the foreground, a mist-shrouded maple tree visible in the upper left corner, signed Buzan with seal Buzan; with tomobako titled and signed by the artist Buzan with seal Buzan. 108.6cm x 40.6cm (42¾in x 16in). (2).

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Kimura Buzan was born in Ibaraki Prefecture. He began studying painting under the Nanga painter Sakurai Karyo. In 1890, he moved to Tokyo to enter the Kaisei School. Buzan also studied at Kawabata Gyokusho's school of painting, the Tenshin-sha. In 1891, he entered the Tokyo School of Fine Art, graduating in 1896. In 1898, his painting won a prize at the Japan Painting Association Fair and he participated as an associate member in the foundation of the Nihon Bijutsu-in (Japan Art Institute), of which he became a full member in 1906. The same year he moved with his family to Izura along with Yokoyama Taikan, Shimomura Kanzan, and Hishida Shunso.

The painting offered here is reminiscent of the famous morotai or hazy style of Yokoyama Taikan and Hishido Shunso.

The artist's work is in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston and the Tokyo National Museum.