Art Blog #157
- Paul Connor
- Jul 10
- 2 min read
Yasuji Inoue and his triptych ' Emperor's Military Review of a Parade Ground at Aoyama.
In the Studio of Kobayashi Kiyochika
Inoue Yasuji, born in Tokyo as the son of a dry goods store owner, may have attended Tsukioka Yoshitoshi's school of printmaking at an early age, though this remains uncertain. At 14, he became an apprentice of Kobayashi Kiyochika, a pivotal figure in the Ukiyo-e tradition who integrated Western artistic techniques into his work while preserving the essence of Japanese aesthetics.
Under Kobayashi's guidance, Inoue Yasuji was introduced to this innovative blend of traditional Japanese and Western art styles.
French Impressionism
The influence of French Impressionism, which had gained traction in the Japanese avant-garde art scene of the late 19th century, is evident in Inoue Yasuji's work. Both Kobayashi Kiyochika and his pupil Inoue explored new artistic concepts such as the interplay of light and shadow—elements that were rarely emphasized in traditional Ukiyo-e prints. Together, they experimented with creating multiple versions of the same designs, often depicting urban scenes of Tokyo under varying lighting conditions.
Scenes of Tokyo
Inoue Yasuji developed a style strongly influenced by his master, focusing on capturing the essence of Tokyo's urban landscape. One of his most remarkable contributions is the series "Tokyo meisho," which features famous landmarks of Tokyo. According to Amy Reigle Stephens in her book "The New Wave - Twentieth Century Japanese Prints from the Robert O. Muller Collection," Inoue Yasuji produced a total of 133 known print designs.
Interestingly, Inoue frequently signed his works using the name Yasujiro, his birth name, adding a personal touch to his artistic legacy.
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