(b Kyoto, 9 March 1888; d Tokyo, 16 Jan 1986). Japanese painter. In 1903, wanting to be a painter, he left school and studied at various institutions, including from 1906 the Kansai Academy of Art, which had been founded in Kyoto by Chu Asai. In 1908 he went to Paris, where he studied initially at the Académie Julian. Soon after his arrival, however, he was inspired by the works of Renoir that he saw at the Musée du Luxembourg. He visited Renoir in Cagnes-sur-Mer and was permitted to study with him for two months. He returned to Paris and, on Renoir’s recommendation, entered the Académie Ransom. He travelled throughout Europe before returning to Japan in 1913 and was especially impressed by the ancient remains and classical paintings that he saw on a trip to Naples. Such works as Gold Necklace (1913; Tokyo, N. Mus. Mod. A.) reveal the influence of Renoir and the brightness and sensuality of Naples.

• Umehara, Ryuzaburo
  • Japan, §VI, 5(v)(b): Avant-garde painting, after 1945
  • Taisho period
  • exhibitions
    • Japan, §XXI, 3(ii): Exhibitions, after 1945
  • groups and movements
    • Japan, §VI, 5(iv)(b): Modern painting: Yoga in the Taisho period and after
    • Tokyo, §II, 2: Art life: Meiji period and after
  • patrons and collectors
    • Nojima, Yasuzo
  • teachers
    • Asai, Chu
    • Japan, §VI, 5(iv)(a): Modern painting: Yoga in the Meiji period