Flyer for Japanese Artist Mr. Toshimune Komatsu Offering painting lessons in Philadelphia
[Japan] Toshimune Komatsu (1875-1956), was known as "the last ukiyo-e artist". He learned painting from Betchaku Shunden (1855-1910) and then left his native Kochi (Tosa) for Tokyo at 19 to become an ukiyo-e artist. He trained under Yoshimune Arai, a disciple of Tsukioka Yoshitoshi, for five years. In 1898, he moved to America and lived in San Francisco, Chicago, New York, and Philadelphia while selling his paintings. He himself wrote that the paintings he drew sold very well. He also painted the backgrounds for some stage plays for Otojiro Kawakami and the Sadayakko troupe when they performed in San Francisco and elsewhere. In 1902, he returned to Japan and after the Russo-Japanese War ended in 1906, he moved to China and joined the Ryoto Shimpo newspaper in Manchuria. While there, Japanese prime minister Ito Hirobumi was assassinated, and Komatsu attended the trial of the assassin, An Jung-geun, and sketched the courtroom. He returned to Tokyo in 1924, moved back to Kochi in 1942 just before the start of the Pacific War, and died at 82 in 1956.
Single leaf. 20.5 x 13cm.
In good condition with only minor wear. Closed tears at top centre edge and middle left edge and a few minor marks. e35020002
