Portrait of Tsukamoto Yasushi

Wada Eisaku was active in the Hakubakai art society alongside Kuroda Seiki, then studied under Raphaël Collin in France. He was in Paris at the same time as Tsukamoto Yasushi, the architect who modeled for this work, and Asai Chu, and he and Asai traveled together to Grez-sur-Loing in 1901. In this painting, Tsukamoto is incongruously portrayed in traditional Japanese attire against a background of Art Nouveau-style wallpaper embellished with an elegant floral pattern. In the lower left corner of the painting, which was produced in France, is an inscription in French reading “ à madame Tsukamoto,” indicating that the portrait was a gift for Tsukamoto’s faraway family back home. Tsukamoto’s demeanor appears relaxed despite his strong, direct gaze. (F.R.)