Lake Kugushi

Born in Tokyo, Oshita Tojiro was a pupil of Harada Naojiro, then traveled to Europe to study plein-air techniques. He published Suisaiga no Shiori (A Guide to Watercolor) in 1901 and launched the magazine Mizue (Watercolor) in 1905. The following year, he opened Suisaiga Koshujo (Watercolor Training Studio), significantly contributing to watercolor’s surge of popularity in the Meiji era (1868–1912). This painting was produced during a trip to Matsue and Fukui in August 1911 for a training session. Painted on site, depicts a mother and child playing by the water at Lake Kugushi, one of the Five Lakes of Mikata. Uncharacteristically for Oshita, whose work usually featured a vibrant palette, this work conveys a sentimental atmosphere with a resinous tone throughout. Oshita fell ill shortly after completing this work, and died in October at the young age of 41. (J.A.)