Yamamura Kōka

Kabuki actor

Dance in the New Carlton

Yamamura Kōka ( Japanese 山村 耕 花 ; January 2, 1886 in Shinagawa , Tokyo - January 25, 1942 , real name Toyonari ( 豊 成 )) was a Japanese painter of the Taishō and early Shōwa period .

life and work

Yamamura was born in the Shinagawa neighborhood of Tokyo, the son of a priest at Shinagawa Shrine. His first teacher was Ogata Gekkō ( 尾形 月 耕 ; 1859-1920), from whose name he took the kō ( 耕 ). He then attended the Tokyo Art School, where he graduated in 1909. As early as 1907, a picture of him entitled " Cremation " ( 荼毘 , dabi ) was shown at the first exhibition organized by the Ministry of Culture , the Mombushō Bijutsu Tenrankai ( 文部省 美術展 覧 会 ). By 1922 he had made 12 prints of well-known Kabuki actors, all of them as a half-length portrait ( 大 首 絵 , ōkubi-e ) on a mica ground , showing an influence of Sharaku . In total, he produced around 30 actor prints. From 1930 he exhibited at the annual exhibition organized by the Nihon Bijutsu-in and became a member there.

In addition to the heads of Kabuki actors, Yamamura's depictions also include big city scenes in the Art Deco style of the 1920s. He also portrayed “beautiful women” ( bijin ) and landscapes.

He signed his paintings with 耕 花 and his prints with 豊 成 .

Remarks

1. ↑ Nakamura Kichiemon I, 1921 (1886-1956).
2. ↑ Seen at the New Carlton in Shanghai, 1924.
3. ↑ Forerunner of the Tōkyō Geijutsu Daigaku .

literature

Commons : Yamamura Kōka  - collection of images, videos and audio files

• MOA (Ed.): Kindai Nihon no mokuhanga. Moa Art Museum, 1983.
• Laurence P. Roberts: A Dictionary of Japanese Artists. Weatherhill, 1976. ISBN 0-8348-0113-2 .

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