Kobayashi Kokei

Japanese painter. Born in Niigata Prefecture on February 11, 1883. His real name was Shigeru. At the age of 12, he was taught by Aoki Koha, a pupil of Matsumoto Fuko, and in 1899 (Meiji 32), he moved to Tokyo and became a pupil of Kajita Hanko. That same year, his work "Murakami Yoshimitsu" was selected for the Japan Painting Association/Japan Art Academy Joint Painting Exhibition, and he continued to exhibit at the same association, winning many awards. In 1906 (Meiji 39), he became acquainted with Yasuda Yukihiko, and in 1917 he joined the Koujikai group, which included Yasuda Yukihiko, Imamura Shiko and others. He also exhibited at the Bunten exhibition, and received a commendation for his work "Gokurakui" at the 6th exhibition in 1919 (Taisho 1). He participated in the revival of the Japan Art Academy in 1919, and exhibited "Heterodox" at its first exhibition, at which point he was recommended to join the group. He exhibited "Amida-do" at the second exhibition, "The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter" at the fourth exhibition, and "Ideyu" at the fifth exhibition, demonstrating his remarkable achievements as a central artist at the Bijutsuin. In 1922, he was selected as a student at the Japan Art Academy and traveled to Europe with Maeda Seison, returning to Japan the following year. In 1930 (Showa 5), ​​he became the manager of the Bijutsuin, and exhibited "Kiyohime" at the Inten exhibition in the same year and "Kami" at the Inten exhibition the following year, attracting attention and solidifying his position in the art world. In 1935, he became a member of the Imperial Academy of Fine Arts, and in 1937, he became a member of the Imperial Art Academy, and in 1944, he was appointed as an Imperial Household Artist. In the same year, he became a professor at the Tokyo School of Fine Arts and trained the next generation of artists, a position he held until 1976, when he became a professor at Tokyo University of the Arts in 1949. In 1975, he was awarded the Order of Culture. He died on April 23, 1957. His unique style of painting, which is based on the tradition of Yamato-e and applies it to the modern era, can be described as a neoclassical style, and in addition to the above, he has left behind many other masterpieces.

[Minoru Harada]

"Kobayashi Kokei Art Collection" (1981, Asahi Shimbun) " Takeda Michitaro Text "Complete Collection of Contemporary Japanese Art 5: Kobayashi Kokei" (1971, Shueisha)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

日本画家。明治16年2月11日新潟県に生まれる。本名茂。12歳のとき松本楓湖(ふうこ)門下の青木香葩(こうは)に手ほどきを受け、1899年（明治32）に上京して梶田半古(かじたはんこ)に入門した。この年、日本絵画協会・日本美術院連合絵画共進会に『村上義光』が入選、続けて同会に出品して受賞を重ねた。1906年（明治39）安田靫彦(ゆきひこ)と知り合い、10年に靫彦、今村紫紅(しこう)らの紅児会(こうじかい)に加わった。文展にも出品し、12年（大正1）の第6回展で『極楽井』が褒状を受けた。14年の日本美術院再興に参加、その第1回展に『異端』を出品し、同人に推された。続いて第2回展に『阿弥陀(あみだ)堂』、第4回展に『竹取物語』、第5回展に『いでゆ』を出品するなど、美術院の中心的な画家として目覚ましい活躍を示した。22年に日本美術院留学生に選ばれて前田青邨(せいそん)とともに渡欧し、翌年帰国。30年（昭和5）美術院経営者となり、同年の院展に『清姫』を、翌年の院展に『髪』を出品して注目され、画壇に地歩を固めた。35年に帝国美術院会員、37年に帝国芸術院会員となり、44年には帝室技芸員にあげられた。またこの年、東京美術学校教授となって後進の育成にあたり、これは49年（昭和24）に東京芸術大学教授に変わって51年まで続いた。50年に文化勲章を受章。昭和32年4月23日没。大和絵(やまとえ)の伝統に立脚し、それを現代に生かす新古典様式ともいえる画風は独特であり、上記のほか多くの秀作を残している。

［原田　実］

『『小林古径画集』（1981・朝日新聞社）』▽『竹田道太郎文『現代日本美術全集5　小林古径』（1971・集英社）』

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