Shoemaker

Produced by Harada while studying in Munich, this painting of a shoemaker is not only his most important work but a masterpiece of portraiture that represents all of Meiji Western style painting.

Harada Naojiro first studied Western-style painting at Takahashi Yuichi’s art school, Tenkai Gakusha. Making his way to Germany in 1884, he sought instruction from Gabriel von Max (1840-1915) and also studied at the academy in Munich before returning to Japan in 1887. The work shown here, dated 1886, was painted by Harada after two years of training in Europe. Against a yellowish gray background, the upper torso of the figure is depicted in so-called three quarter view. The face, however, is turned back toward the viewer, so that the eyes and body are oriented in different directions. The contrast between the strong light that falls upon the head from the forehead to the nose, and the shadow that lies over the eyes and left half of the face is also striking. Such a sense of movement in the body and contrast of light and dark impart a dramatic effect to Harada’s realistic rendering. A charcoal study presumed to depict the same individual is also known (cf. Meiji chuki no yoga [Western style painting of the mid-Meiji era], catalogue of the exhibition, 1988, illustration p. 54). The present work was purchased from Nagao Kenkichi on December 3, 1896. (Writer : Masako Kawaguchi Source : Selected Masterpieces from The University Art Museum, Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music: Grand Opening Exhibition, The University Art Museum, Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music, 1999)