Konohanasakuya-hime

Influenced by his art teacher Horie Masaaki at the former Chiba Junior High School (now ChibaPrefectural Chiba Senior High School), Ishii Rinkyo initially aspired to be a Western-style painter but soonshifted to Japanese-style painting, becoming a pupil of Hashimoto Gaho. This work was shown at the 5th Futabakai Exhibition. Futabakai was a Japanese-style painting research society founded by Gaho, whosemembers were his pupils, including Kawai Gyokudo. At the time historical themes were highly popular, and this painting is based on the Kojiki (Record of Ancient Matters). The elegant figure of the princess Konohanasakuya-hime occupying the right half of the vertical composition, and her husband Ninigi’s averted gaze, are emphasized by the placement of figures in the background, highlighting the work’s main subject. This painting is extraordinarily assured and graceful for an artist who was only 22 at the time. (N.R.)