Hishida Shunso · 1874–1911
Hishida Shunso
Hishida Shunso was a Meiji-era Nihonga painter born in Nagano. He joined Yokoyama Taikan and others in founding the Japan Art Institute and worked on the lineless "mosen-byoho" technique, but died in 1911 at the age of 37.
Hishida Shunso was born in Nagano in 1874 and died in 1911 at the age of 37. Along with Yokoyama Taikan and Shimomura Kanzan, he was a student of Okakura Tenshin and contributed to the renewal of Nihonga in the Meiji era. He moved to Tokyo at 17, first studied under Yuki Masaaki, and entered the Tokyo School of Fine Arts.
His graduation work, "Widow and Orphan," earned the highest score. In 1898, in the movement to oust Okakura Tenshin, he left the school with Taikan and others and joined in founding the Japan Art Institute. He then presented works in the "mosen-byoho" (lineless) technique, which the public mocked as "moro-tai" (hazy style).
Starting in 1903 he spent about two years traveling with Taikan through India, the United States, and Europe. Later, afflicted with an eye disease, he returned to Tokyo and exhibited "Fallen Leaves" and "Black Cat" at the Bunten. His works include "Waterfalls in Spring and Autumn" and "Returning from Fishing."
