Yuzo Saeki

Western-style painter. Born on April 28, 1898, in Osaka as the second son of the head priest of Kotokuji Temple. He began learning drawing at Akamatsu Rinsaku's art school when he was in his fourth year at Kitano Junior High School. In the autumn of 1917 (Taisho 6), after graduating from junior high school, he moved to Tokyo with the aim of becoming a painter, and studied under Fujishima Takeji at Kawabata Art School. The following year, he entered the Western Painting Department of the Tokyo School of Fine Arts, and in 1921, while still a student, he married Ikeda Yoneko (who later became the Western-style painter Saeki Yoneko). He graduated from art school in 1923 and arrived in Paris the following January, where he began attending the free course at the Grande Chaumière. He was eventually introduced to Vlaminck by Satomi Katsuzo, and was deeply influenced by the Fauve painter as an inspiration, and was also moved by Utrillo. In 1925, his works, including "The Shoemaker," were selected for the Salon d'Automne. He returned to Japan in March of the following year, and together with Satomi and Kanji Maeda, he formed the "1930 Association" and held his first exhibition. At the Nika Exhibition in the autumn of the same year, he exhibited 19 works he had made in Europe as a special exhibit, and received the Nika Prize. He produced a series of works, "Shimo-Ochiai Landscape" and "Delayed Ship", but his own style of painting did not match the Japanese climate, so he returned to Paris again in September 1927 (Showa 2) via the Trans-Siberian Railway, exhibited "Newspaper Shop" and other works at the Salon d'Automne, and was actively producing works throughout the following year. The style of his second period in Paris was characterized by the use of calligraphic, expressionistic lines, and in works such as "Gaslight and Advertisement", he made use of his sharp sense and unrestrained yet refined brushwork. He also went on a sketching trip to Moran, where he painted stately temples and landscapes, but fatigue from excessive painting caused his health to deteriorate, so he produced "Postman" and other works indoors. However, in addition to tuberculosis, he developed a nervous breakdown and was admitted to the Evrard psychiatric hospital on the outskirts of Paris, where he passed away on August 16, 1928, at the age of 30.

[Tadao Ogura]

"Saeki Yuzo" by Masaru Sakamoto (1970, Nichido Publishing)" ▽ "Complete Collection of Contemporary Japanese Art 9: Saeki Yuzo" with commentary by Akira Asahi (1971, Shueisha)"

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

洋画家。明治31年4月28日、大阪で光徳寺の住職の次男として生まれる。北野中学校4年生のころから赤松麟作(りんさく)の画塾でデッサンを習う。1917年（大正6）中学卒業の秋、画家を志して上京し、川端画学校で藤島武二(たけじ)の指導を受け、翌年東京美術学校西洋画科に入学、在学中の21年に池田米子(よね)（後の洋画家佐伯米子）と結婚。23年美術学校を卒業して、翌年1月パリに着き、グランド・ショミエールの自由科に通い始める。やがて里見勝蔵にブラマンクを紹介され、このフォーブ画家の啓示と強い影響を受けるほか、ユトリロにも感動している。25年サロン・ドートンヌに『靴屋』ほかが入選。翌年3月に帰国し、里見、前田寛治(かんじ)らと「一九三〇年協会」を結成して第1回展を開き、同年秋の二科展には滞欧作19点を特別陳列して二科賞を受けた。『下落合(しもおちあい)風景』『滞船』を連作するが、日本の風土と自己の画風が一致せず、シベリア鉄道経由で27年（昭和2）9月パリにふたたび戻って、サロン・ドートンヌに『新聞屋』ほかを出品し、翌年にかけて盛んな制作活動を行った。第二次パリ時代の画風の特色はカリグラフィック（書法的）な表現主義的線描の駆使であり、『ガス灯と広告』ほかに、鋭い神経と奔放ながらも洗練度の高い筆勢を生かしている。またモランへ写生旅行し、重厚な寺院や風景を描くが、過度の制作による疲労から健康を害し、室内で『郵便配達夫』などを制作した。しかし結核に加えて神経衰弱が進み、パリ郊外のエブラール精神科病院に入院し、昭和3年8月16日に30歳の生涯を閉じた。

［小倉忠夫］

『阪本勝著『佐伯祐三』（1970・日動出版部）』▽『朝日晃解説『現代日本美術全集9　佐伯祐三』（1971・集英社）』

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