明治美術会 明治24年 (1891) 歴史に残る手紙

明治美術会 明治24年 (1891)

正確な日付を特定することはできませんが、東京・本郷の消印に基づいて、この手紙は明治24年（1891年）または明治25年の12月に送られたと考えています。手紙は神戸の前田吉彦宛てに送られており、明治美術会事務所から発信されています。手紙には差出人の名前が含まれている可能性がありますが、テキストや著者の名前を解読することができません。

はがきの宛名面には、団体の公式な赤い盾のスタンプが押されています。比較のために、オンラインで見つけた別の例も添付しています（https://jaa2100.org/entry/detail/052417.html）。

明治美術会

Although I cannot determine the exact date, based on the postmark from Hongo, Tokyo, I believe this letter was sent in December of either Meiji 24 (1891) or Meiji 25 (1892). The letter was addressed to Maeda Yoshihiko in Kobe and was sent from the office of the Meiji Art Society. It may contain the sender's name, but I am unable to decipher the text or the author's name.

On the address side of the postcard, there is the organization's official red shield stamp. For comparison, I have attached another example I found online (https://jaa2100.org/entry/detail/052417.html).

美術先生 1890年のオリジナルアート付き

 

前田吉彦 神戸美術先生 1890年のオリジナルアート付き年賀状

この1890年の年賀状（明治23年1月1日）は、大阪から作者不明のアーティストによって送られました。作品には、凛々しい馬に乗って微笑む男が描かれており、彼は日の出の旗を掲げ、背景には城が見えます。描画のシンプルさがそのインパクトを高めています。1890年が午年であったため、この作品に描かれた勇ましい馬には象徴的な意味が込められているのでしょう。

よく見ると、男の服にいくつかの文字があり、城のすぐ下にはアーティストのサインらしきものがあります。これらの文字ははっきりとはしていません。その為、この芸術的なはがきの送信者は不明です。どなたかこの送信者を特定できる読者がいるかもしれません。

New Year's Card from 1890 with Original Artwork Addressed to Maeda Yoshihiko, Western-Style Painter

This New Year's card from 1890 (Meiji 23, January 1st) was sent from Osaka by an unknown artist. The artwork depicts a smiling man riding a gallant horse, holding a rising sun flag, with a castle visible in the background. The simplicity of the drawing enhances its impact. Since 1890 was the Year of the Horse, the brave horse depicted in the artwork likely holds symbolic meaning.

Upon closer inspection, there are some characters on the man's clothing, and what appears to be the artist's signature just below the castle. However, these characters are not clear, making it difficult to identify the sender of this artistic postcard. Perhaps a reader might be able to identify the sender.

前田吉彦 洋画家 明治24年のはがき (1891年)

前田吉彦 洋画家 明治24年6月3日のはがき (1891年)

このはがきは興味深いものです。なぜなら、前田吉彦の住所印「神戸市下山手通六丁目六百六番地」が楕円形のスタンプで押されているからです。彼はただ試してみたかったのかもしれません。この絵葉書は京都から送られました。送信者の名前とメッセージについては判読できません。

This postcard is intriguing because it bears Maeda Yoshihiko's address stamp, "Kobe-shi Shimoyamate-dori 6-chome 606-banchi," in an oval-shaped stamp. He may have simply wanted to try it out. The postcard was sent from Kyoto. The sender's name and message are unreadable.

前田吉彦 油絵新発見 明治24年 '風に吹かれ焚き火に当たる女'

このはがきは前田吉彦宛で、住所は神戸下山手通六丁目です。消印の日付ははっきりしていますが、都市名は判読できません。ただし、差出人が京都からで、内容と名前は判読できません。

私たちはこの油絵を「風に吹かれ焚き火に当たる女」と題しました。人物の右側に二つの薪の山があり、左側の奥にもう一つあります。手前にある三つの黒い「ペレット」は何を描いているのでしょう？

よく見ると、絵の具が消印の上に重なっていることがわかり、この作品が前田に届けられた後に描かれたことを示しています。前田の絵画を所有することは無いので、この絵葉書は私たちにとって貴重な「作品」です。

Maeda Yoshihiko: Newly Discovered Oil Painting 1891

We have titled this oil painting  '風に吹かれ焚き火に当たる女' (Woman by a Campfire in the Breeze). There are two piles of firewood on the right side of the figure and another one in the back on the left side. We do not know what the three black "pellets" in the foreground represent.

Upon close inspection, it is evident that the paint overlaps the postmark, indicating that this work was created after it was delivered to Maeda. This small painting is unpublished and previously unknown. Note: Several large paintings are held in Japanese museums. This card was sent by Yamashita Kumata on June 15, 1894 from Kyoto. 

Yamashita Kumata (山下久馬太), a rare and lesser-known artist of the Meiji Period, graduated from the Kyoto Municipal School of Arts and Crafts in July 1886 (Meiji 19). The Kyoto Municipal School of Arts and Crafts was part of a broader effort to preserve Japan’s cultural heritage while embracing Western artistic methods. 

The sole reference to Yamashita Kumata’s identity as an artist is a painting he created in 1887, titled 臥竜松真写: 臥竜松在于備前和気郡大内村一ノ井氏庭中 (True Depiction of the Garyū Pine: The Garyū Pine Located in the Garden of the Ichii Family in Ōuchi Village, Wake District, Bizen).

Yoshihiko Maeda: Pioneer of Japanese Western-style Painting

Born in 1849 in Okayama Prefecture, Yoshihiko Maeda is not as famous as some of his contemporaries, but he played a crucial role in the development of Western-style painting in Japan. He moved to Kobe, a port city that flourished during the Meiji era, and was active not only as a painter but also as an art educator.

Maeda was deeply involved in art education, teaching at Kobe Normal School. He emphasized the importance of blending Eastern and Western artistic traditions. Additionally, he authored many art education books for elementary school students.

One of his notable contributions was co-organizing an exhibition of oil paintings and calligraphy at Kobe Elementary School in 1891. This event was significant in promoting the spread of Western-style painting and demonstrated his dedication to the local art community.

Although Maeda's works are not widely known today because of their rarity, his influence on the development of Western-style painting in Japan and his role as an art educator have left a lasting impact.