Noguchi Yatarō

Noguchi, around 1951

Noguchi Yatarō ( Japanese 野 口 弥 太郎 ; born October 1, 1899 in Tokyo Prefecture ; died March 23, 1976 ) was a Japanese painter in Yōga -, ie in the "Western" style during Taishō and Shōwa times .

life and work

Noguchi was born in Tōkyō, but grew up in the then Japanese Incheon , then in Nagasaki and Kobe , in the places of work of his father, who was a bank clerk there. In 1920 Noguchi graduated from Kansai Gakuin Middle School and then went to Tōkyō after a break due to illness. There he began studying painting at the Kawabata Art School ( 川端 画 学校 , Kawabata gagakkō ), where Fujishima Takeji was his teacher. In 1922 Noguchi was able to show a first work in the exhibition of the Nika-kai ( 二 科 会 ), which was then followed by others. In 1927 he showed pictures in the "1930 Society" ( 1930 年 協会 , 1930-nen kyōkai ), which Maeta Kanji had organized with friends. He also became a member there.

In the same year Noguchi went to Paris, where he continued his education at the Académie Grande Chaumière . From 1930 he showed pictures in the Salon d'Automne . The “Place de Vercours” and “Café du Port” paintings submitted in 1931 received recognition, the second being acquired by the French government and becoming part of the Paris City Hall collection. In 1932 Noguchi signed a contract in Paris for a solo exhibition in the Villon Gallery, but had to give up the project because of problems with his eyes.

In 1933 Noguchi returned to Japan, exhibited pictures at the exhibition of the "Independent Artist Community " ( 独立 美術 協会 , Dokuritsu bijutsu kyōkai ) and became a member. First he showed pictures that he had painted in France, then from 1939 on pictures that were based on material he had collected while traveling through northern Japan and Hokkaidō. In 1945 he lost his entire work in the great air raid on 24/25. May.

After 1945 Noguchi visited Nagasaki and Hokkaidō again. This resulted in a large number of landscapes that were painted with a Fauvist in light colors. In 1960 he traveled back to Europe, visited Italy and Spain and in 1961 was able to show his pictures at a solo exhibition in Paris. In 1964 Noguchi received the 5th annual “Mainichi Prize of Fine Arts” ( 毎 日 美術 賞 , Mainichi bijutsu-shō ) for a series of pictures from his second trip to Europe, including the picture “Procession in Seville” ( セ ビ ラ の 行列 , Sebira no gyōretsu ), painted with a light, light brushstroke. After that, Noguchi continued to paint, even while treating his left eye.

Noguchi found high recognition for his urban, refined sensitivity, for his use of color and for his gift of always being in contact with the roots of Japanese art despite all the freedom. He received, among other things, the " Dark Blue Medal on Ribbon " ( 紺 綬 褒 章 , Konju hōshō ), 1973 the Grand Prize ( 芸 術 選 奨 文 部 大臣 賞 , Geijutsu Senshō Mombudaijin-shō ) from the Minister of Culture. In 1975 he became a member of the Academy of Arts .

The city of Nagasaki preserves the memory of Noguchi with the "Noguchi Yatarō Memorial Art Museum" ( 野 口 弥 太郎 記念 美術館 ).

Remarks

1. ^ A medal from the state, here for contributions to society in various fields.

literature

• Tazawa, Yutaka: Noguchi Yatarō . In: Biographical Dictionary of Japanese Art. Kodansha International, 1981. ISBN 0-87011-488-3 .
• Laurance P. Roberts: Noguchi Yatarō . In: A Dictionary of Japanese Artists. Weatherhill, 1976. ISBN 0-8348-0113-2 .

Web links

• Noguchi pictures in the Noguchi Museum in Nagasaki

Japanese name: As is common in Japan, the family name comes before the first name in this article . Thus, Noguchi is the family name, Yatarō the first name.