A Legendary Artist Painter Jirokichi Kasagi
- News -
"Denen Sanka ten (Anthem to Countryside Exhibition)" on the subject of idyllic scenery such as working peasants was held at Museum of Modern Art, Saitama in Nov.-Dec. 2007, and now is going through various museums of the country in sequence. It caused a sensation when "A Peasant with a Child" and "Harvest" from never-before-published works of J. Kasagi were displayed along with some famous pieces by old masters such as Monet, Millet, and Chu Asai.
Profile
1870-1923. Kanazawa city in Ishikawa prefecture is believed to be his hometown.
The father in law of Kazuko Kasagi, a representative executive of current Gallery Kasagi.
It is said that he headed to Yokohama for himself during adolescence and developed drawing techniques under the influence of Horyu Goseda et alia, then went to Europe and studied for some unspecified period.
Most of his works spreaded overseas and were lost from his base, the port Yokohama. Furthermore, his remaining drawings stuffed into willow basket trunks were also gone with the Great Kanto Earthquake and with fire disaster due to aerial attacks in World War II. Although a faded facial portrait and a rough sketch are the only property left to his descendants, some of his traces were happened to be discovered in a collection of Mitsumasa Takano in late years.
（Incidentally, Mitsumasa's father, Tokiji Takano, nurtured Chu Asai's talent and was a collector of Asai's.）
3 pieces of work by J. Kasagi in Takano's collection were exhibited in "Mouhitotsuno Meiji Bijyutsu (Another Meiji Arts)" exhibition held in Shizuoka Prefectual Museum of Art, Fuchu Art Museum, Nagano Prefectural Shinano Art Museum and The Okayama Prefectural Museum of Art from July 2003 to February 2004, and had major repercussions all over Japan.
- Need Information -
It would be appreciated if you could let us know any trivial information about Jirokichi Kasagi. His paintings possibly contain "
" or "J. Kasagi" as his signature. Also, most of his works are expected to exist in Britain, Belgium, U.S.A. and such.
Contact Address : yokoso@kasagi-garo.com