(“Maiko in a garden”, 1924, part of a collection at The Tokyo National Modern Arts Museum. Incidentally, a maiko is an apprentice Geisha.)　

Tsuchida Bakuzen hailed from a farmer’s family in Niigata prefecture. At the age of 17, he became an apprentice to Takeuchi Seiho, a master artist.

In 1911. Tsuchida graduated from an arts school in Kyoto (now Kyoto City University of Arts). Along with other graduates from the same arts school, Tsuchida coordinated to set up a new movement in 1918 to seek the fusion of Japanese and western arts.

In fact, his style was greatly influenced by Renoir and Gauguin. In 1921, Tsuchida managed to go to Europe in order to study the western arts; he stayed there for about a year and a half. It was unfortunate that he died relatively early at the age of 49. Tsuchida was credited for mentoring talented artists. 

“Women of an island”,1912, a piece at The Tokyo National Modern Arts Museum.

“Women peddlers”, 1915, a piece at the Yamatane museum

“Serving girl in a spa”, 1918, a piece at The Tokyo National Modern Arts Museum.

“Spring”, 1920, a piece at Kodansha

“Women divers”, 1913, a piece at The Tokyo National Modern Arts Museum.

“Women peddlers”, 1927, a piece at The Kyoto National Modern Arts Museum.

Tuchida Bakuzen, circa late 1920s.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

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