Lot Essay
Kobayashi Kokei was born in Niigata. His formal training in traditional Japanese painting began at the age of twelve when he became a pupil of Kajita Hanko (1870-1917). In 1912 he showed his work with the Bunten and beginning in 1914 he became active in another artists' association, the Saiko Nihon Bijutsuin.
In the 1920s Kobayashi immersed himself in the study of classical Chinese art and he traveled in Europe from 1922-23 to increase his knowledge of western painting. He was one a group of artists that included Yokoyama Taikan (1868-1958) and Shimomura Kanzan (1873-1930), a group influenced by the powerful headmaster of the Tokyo School of Fine Arts, Okakura Tenshin (1862-1913).
From 1944-51 he, taught painting at the Tokyo School of Fine Arts and in 1944 he became a member of the Art Committee of the Imperial Household and of the Imperial Art Academy. He received the Order of Cultural Merit in 1950.
In the 1920s Kobayashi immersed himself in the study of classical Chinese art and he traveled in Europe from 1922-23 to increase his knowledge of western painting. He was one a group of artists that included Yokoyama Taikan (1868-1958) and Shimomura Kanzan (1873-1930), a group influenced by the powerful headmaster of the Tokyo School of Fine Arts, Okakura Tenshin (1862-1913).
From 1944-51 he, taught painting at the Tokyo School of Fine Arts and in 1944 he became a member of the Art Committee of the Imperial Household and of the Imperial Art Academy. He received the Order of Cultural Merit in 1950.