Torajiro Kojima "French forest"

Torajiro Kojima was born in the town of Nariwa, Okayama Prefecture, in 1881. He went to Tokyo to become a painter in 1901, and was taught by Seiki Kuroda and Takeji Fujishima at the White Horse Society and Tokyo Art School. Around this time, Kojima absorbed the European Impressionist style. The techniques of the Impressionist school are seen in such early works as 'Village water mills' (Ohara Museum of Art), which won Kojima the First Award at the Tokyo Industrial Exposition (Tokyo-fu Kangyo Hakurankai) in 1907, and 'Garden of mercy' (which was later purchased by the Imperial Household Agency).

Sponsored by Magosaburo Ohara, Kojima studied in Europe ---- where he had so much wished to go ---- for two years starting from 1910. While in Europe, he came under the influence of the Impressionists. This painting, 'French forest', which is thought to have been produced around this period, reminds us of the works of Pissarro. Even after he returned home, Kojima continued to exhibit works at the Paris Salon and was chosen to become a member of the Salon de la Societe Nationale.

Kojima is also well known for forming the Ohara collection. The Ohara Museum of Art was established in 1930 in Kojima's memory, and many of his works hang there.

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Torajiro Kojima
(1881 - 1929)
French forest

Oil on canvas
65 x 80cm