Saburosuke Okada

Western-style painter. Born in Saga Prefecture on January 12, 1869. He first studied under Soyama Yukihiko, and later learned plein air techniques from Kuroda Seiki. In 1896 (Meiji 29), he participated in the founding of the Hakuba-kai (White Horse Society), and became an assistant professor in the Western Painting Department of the newly established Tokyo School of Fine Arts. The following year, he studied in France under Raphaël Collin, and toured various European countries. In 1902 (Meiji 35), he returned to Japan and became a professor at the Tokyo School of Fine Arts. In 1907, his work Portrait of a Certain Lady won first prize at the Tokyo Industrial Exposition, and he served as a judge for the first Bunten exhibition. In 1912, he founded the Hongo Western Painting Research Institute with Fujishima Takeji, and later became a member of the Imperial Academy of Fine Arts and an Imperial Household Artist, and in 1937 (Showa 12), he received the first Order of Culture. The purpose of his second trip to Europe in 1955 was to inspect arts and crafts, but from an early stage he devoted himself to the development of crafts and designs. His plein air landscape paintings and decorative female figures show an elegant Japanese aesthetic. His representative works include "Yone Peach Forest," "Iris Robe," and "Portrait of a Woman." He passed away on September 23, 1939. His wife, Okada Yachiyo (younger sister of Osanai Kaoru), was known as a novelist and playwright.

[Tadao Ogura]

"Contemporary Japanese Art 7: Saburosuke Okada and Others" (1975, Shueisha)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

洋画家。明治2年1月12日佐賀県に生まれる。初め曽山幸彦(そやまゆきひこ)につき、のち黒田清輝(せいき)に外光派の技法を学ぶ。1896年（明治29）白馬会の創立に参加し、新設の東京美術学校西洋画科の助教授となる。翌年フランスに留学してラファエル・コランに師事、ヨーロッパ各国を見学して、1902年（明治35）帰国し東京美術学校教授となる。07年東京勧業博覧会で『某夫人像』が一等賞となり、また第1回文展から審査員を務める。12年、藤島武二(たけじ)と本郷洋画研究所を設立、のち帝国美術院会員、帝室技芸員となり、37年（昭和12）には第1回文化勲章を受けた。30年の第2回欧州旅行の目的は美術工芸の視察だったが、早くから工芸、図案などの発展に尽くしている。外光主義の風景画と、装飾的女性像に典雅な日本情趣を示した。代表作『ヨネ桃の林』『あやめの衣』『婦人半身像』ほか。昭和14年9月23日没。夫人の岡田八千代（小山内薫(おさないかおる)の妹）は小説家、劇作家として知られる。

［小倉忠夫］

『『現代日本の美術7　岡田三郎助他』（1975・集英社）』

出典　小学館　日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)について　情報 | 凡例