Artist: Keigetsu Kikuchi  (1879-1955)
Title: A Beauty with a Horse Puppet 
Date: c1930
Edition: Unknown, Dai-oban Woodblock Print
Sig./Seal: Red Seal
Condition: Very good, supple paper
Size: 20.5 x 14.5                                                  $995
 
KIKUCHI Keigetsu (1879-1955) is known as a Japanese-style painter whose figure painting expresses at the same time gracefulness and assuredness. Keigetsu was active in Kyoto from the latter half of Meiji period till the beginning of Showa period, but his works still attract us more than 70 years after his death.

Keigetsu was born at the present Nakano city of the Nagano prefecture, and there learned southern-style painting from KODAMA Katei. In 1896 he went to Kyoto and became a pupil of KIKUCHI Hōbun the next year. He learned authentic discipline based on Shijo school, and winning various prizes, came into public attention as a promising painter in the artists’ world of Kyoto. After traveling in Europe, he produced serene and graceful works harmonizing occidental painting and Yamato-e, and established his position in the art world. As a teacher he developed many artists such as UDA Tekison and KAJIWARA Hisako. His favorite subjects were Bijin-ga - images of beautiful women. In 1934 he was honored by being appointed a member of the Imperial Art Board and in 1937 as a member of the Imperial Art Academy.