Abstract
Natsume Soseki (1867-1916), the author of I am a Cat, wrote at the beginning of his only art critique,Bunten and the Arts, that “Art is the beginning of my expression, the end of my expression.” in 1912. Since that time, Soseki showed leniency towards young painters who were rejected by the Bunten exhibition and a sharp eye towards the works of painters who have returned from studies in Europe and the United States.
Born in Kyoto, Yasui Sotaro (1888-1955) learned Western-style painting in Kyoto, and moved to France in 1907, where he influenced by Cézanne, El Greco and other contemporary artists in Europe. World War I in 1914, he returned to Japan, made his debut with solo exhibition at the site of the 2nd Nika exhibition in 1915. Soseki purchased Yasui’s painting Village at the Foot of the Mountain, a landscape he had painted in Vétheuil in France at that solo exhibition, and Soseki displayed it in the guest room of his home (Soseki Sanbo). In this guest room the young people of Soseki’s private literary circle, the “Thursday Meeting (Mokuyo-kai)” gathered.
In this paper, I introduce the support of Soseki, and the Thursday Meeting members, Tsuda Seifu and Komiya Toyotaka and the reaction to the Yasui’s solo exhibition.
