Koyo ISHIZAKI （1884-1947）

Japanese-style painter from Nanto, Toyama

He studied under “the Rimpa school” painter Koichi Yamamoto and learned the classics of the Rimpa school, and in addition, he spent time sketching nature in the fields and mountains, believing that sketching was important. A year after his initiation, he was given the pseudonym “Koyo” (meaning ” bright sphere” in Japanese). In1903, when he was 19 year-old, he studied under Takeuchi Seiho, who pioneered modern Japanese-style painting in Kyoto, where he learned to emphasize the painter’s originality as well as sketching. In 1912, he was selected for the first time at the 6th Bunten Exhibition, In 1914, “Kakei” was awarded a prize at the 8th Bunten Exhibition, and was purchased by the Ministry of the Imperial Household.Later, Koyo, who loved the mountains, visited the Himalayan peaks and the ancient sites of India. The year after his return to Japan, “Vibrant Spring in Hot Country” won a special prize at the 12th Bunten Exhibition in 1918. The following year, “Brilliant Rain” was also awarded a special prize at the 1st Teiten.The visit to the ancient sites of India revealed dazzlingly vivid colors and vitality, and Koyo’s individuality blossomed beautifully. After the death of his teacher Seiho Takeuchi, he opened Ishizaki Painting Institute to train younger artists.He served as a judge for the Teiten and a professor at the Kyoto College of Painting.