Maruyama Banka, Japanese Landscape with a Field of Flowers, Watercolour, 1902, Tokyo, Japanese Artist

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Maruyama Banka
Nezu 1867 - 1942

Japanese Landscape with Flowers

Watercolor
Signed and dated lower right
Size: 63 x 48 … Read more Maruyama Banka
Nezu 1867 - 1942

Japanese Landscape with Flowers

Watercolor
Signed and dated lower right
Size: 63 x 48 cm
Frame: 81 x 67 cm
Good condition, slight staining in the upper right (see photos)

Authenticity will be confirmed in writing.

Maruyama Banka initially studied Nanga painting under Kodama Katei (児玉 果亭; 1841–1913), but at the age of 17, he aspired to become a Western-style painter. He moved to Tokyo, where he enrolled at the Kanga Gakusha Art Academy to study oil painting. At 19, he temporarily returned to his hometown and worked as a substitute teacher at an elementary school. At 21, he returned to Tokyo and studied at the Shōgidō (彰技堂), which was headed by Honda Kinkichirō (本多錦吉郎; 1851–1921). A predecessor at the school was Asai Chū (1856–1907), and other students included Ogawa Usen (1868–1938), Oka Seiichi (岡精一; 1868–1944), and Shimomura Izan (下村為山; 1865–1949).

However, the Shōgidō was soon closed, and due to family circumstances, Murayama returned to his hometown at the age of 23. He helped sell silkworm eggs in the family business and exhibited oil paintings at the 3rd National Industrial Exhibition (第３回内国勧業博覧会, Dai 3-kai naikoku kangyō hakurankai) that year. During this time, he received the Buddhist name "Banka Tenshū" (晩霞天秀) from the high priest of Jōtsu-in Temple (定津院), where he completed 100 days of exercises, and has called himself "Banka" ever since.

In 1893, when Maruyama was 28 years old, he met the painter Yoshida Hiroshi while staying in Numata, Gunma Prefecture, to help out in the family business. Yoshida was nine years younger than Banka, so he was amazed by Yoshida's detailed and realistic watercolor technique. Under Yoshida's influence, Banka exhibited 25 watercolors at the 1909 exhibition commemorating the 10th anniversary of the founding of the Meiji Western Painting Society (明治洋画会; Meiji Yōga-kai). He also met Katsumi Miyake (三宅克己; 1874–1954), who had just returned from Europe, through Yoshida's introduction.

Later Years

In 1900, Maruyama traveled to the United States with Mitsutani Kunishiro, Takeshirō Kanokogi, and Shinzō Kawai (河合 新蔵; 1867–1936). Together with Hiroshi, they held exhibitions in Boston and Washington, D.C. The works sold well, and all three earned a considerable amount of money, subsequently traveling to Europe. In 1901, Maruyama returned to Japan alone and subsequently established a studio in his hometown. The following year, he participated in the founding of the artists' association "Taiheiyō Gakai" (太平洋画会). He succeeded Miyake at the Komoro Gijuku (諸義塾) training center, where he taught drawing.

In 1903, at the invitation of Ōshita Tōjirō (大下藤次郎; 1870–1911), Maruyama moved to Tokyo, where he taught younger generations at the Taiheiyō Gakai training center. He also contributed to the editorial work of Ōshita's art magazine "Mizue" (みずゑ), thus promoting the development of watercolor painting in Japan. He was able to exhibit at the first Bunten Exhibition. In 1907, he exhibited his paintings at the first exhibition, and again at the second exhibition the following year. In 1911, he traveled to Europe once more. Upon his return, he held an exhibition at the Imperial Hotel featuring 258 works created in Europe. He participated in the founding of the Japan Watercolor Painting Society (日本水彩画会, Nihon suisaiga-kai) in 1913 and subsequently exhibited there.

In 1917, Maruyama traveled to the Korean Peninsula, and in 1923 to Qingdao in China, as well as to Southeast Asia and India. Furthermore, starting around 1915, watercolor paintings were mounted on rolls and sold as "Shin-Nihonga." He continued to create works in various parts of the prefecture and gradually began to paint magnificent Alpine landscapes. In 1936, he built a new studio, "Hagoromo-sō" (羽衣荘), in Nezu, his hometown. But his health deteriorated during a trip to the South Pacific in the spring of that same year. He died in 1942 at the age of 76.

Among Maruyama's students were Kōzu Kōjin (1889–1978), Satō Takezō (1891–1972), Koyama Shūji (1885–1967), and Seki Harukaze (1881–1957). This piece has an attribution mark,
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