Studio: international art (3.1894)

Studies by Japanese Artists

signs. Some of their most esteemed works are, inculcated by professors from Europe who would
moreover, executed in Indian-ink upon paper, and do well to submit themselves to the guidance of
bear evidence of a rapidity of execution to which their pupils upon many points in which they are
the practice of writing has undoubtedly contri- incontestably their superiors. A meeting of this
buted. kind, at which the writer had the privilege of

As an evidence of the value assigned to qualities assisting, was held some years ago at Osaka,
of execution, it may not be out of place to notice always a great stronghold of artists. On this occa-
a custom which has long prevailed in
Japan. It is a common practice to
invite skilful artists to the social gather-
ings in which this hospitable people
take so much delight. Received as
honoured guests, they are not permitted
to depart without contributing their
share to the entertainment, and they
are usually invited to sketch in the
presence of the assembled company,
who frequently suggest a subject.
These drawings being made entirely
from memory, the ingenuity of the
artist is shown in the treatment of the
theme suggested, while the spectators
eagerly watch the progress of the work
and criticise its style and execution.
The fragile paper has to be unrolled on
the floor as the drawing advances, and
is kept in its place by weights. The
brush is held perpendicularly as in
writing, the hand never resting on the
paper, and such is the skill of the
operator that mistakes rarely occur.
Rapid sketches of this kind are gene-
rally executed in monochrome, which
enables the artist to give his undivided
attention to skilful drawing. Such ex-
hibitions are not confined to artists,
amateurs frequently take a part in the
performance and worthily emulate the
work of their professional brethren. A
remarkable study of bamboos, exhi-
bited some years ago at the Burlington
Fine Arts Club, which, from its accuracy
of drawing and graceful arrangement of azaleas " reduced from the original drawing

line, might well have been the produc-
tion of a finished artist, was the work of a Buddhist sion invitations were issued to artists and their
priest. friends in order to celebrate an anniversary. Three

The practice of painting in society is strikingly noted Japanese painters, Kiyokuso, Kiujo and
exemplified in the associations of artists who meet Hokusho, having all died within one year, " a
together for the express purpose of working in commemoration meeting for writing and painting"
company and comparing the results of their labours, was summoned at a place called Hofukuji, near
Such meetings are of the highest interest, and Osaka. The party assembled at a famous tea-
might form the nucleus of a real school of art. house on Cha-usu-yama, a wooded height on the
Unhappily the custom, like many others of old banks of a small lake, the picturesque beauty of
Japan, is on the wane, and modern ideas are being which rendered it peculiarly appropriate for the

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