Biography

Painter. Born in Kyoto City. In 1904, entered Shogoin Yoga Kenkyujo (present-day Kansai Fine Art Academy). Lived in Europe from 1907 to 1914. Studied under Jean-Paul Laurens, while also strongly influenced by Camille Pissarro and Paul Cézanne. In 1944, became a professor at Tokyo University of the Arts. In 1952, was awarded the Order of Culture from the Japanese Government. Via a long period of creative exploration after returning to Japan, he established his own realistic painting technique, using contrasting vivid colors and emphasized forms. This allowed him to develop a new style of painting in his portraits, still lifes and landscapes. The Yasui Award Exhibition, which was established posthumously, continued to be held up to its fortieth exhibition. It served as a gateway for new painting artists, while also producing many outstanding artists. It was commonly referred to as the Akutagawa Prize (Japan’s most prestigious literary award) of figurative painting.