Okada Saburosuke

Okada Saburosuke studied at Nisho Gakusha University High School. Training under Raphaël Collin is recorded. Hasui Kawase, Li Mei-shu and Yen Shui-long are recorded as having studied under Okada Saburosuke. The recorded working language is Japanese. The field of work recorded is portrait. Subjects and genres recorded for the work are Yōga. Places of work recorded in the authority are Tokyo City. Positions recorded include Imperial Household Artist. Works named in the authority record are Lady and creative work. Work by Okada Saburosuke is recorded in the collections of Artizon Museum, Hiroshima Museum of Art, Saga Prefectural Art Museum, Saga Prefectural Museum and Mie Prefectural Art Museum. Distinctions recorded are Order of Culture.

• Name — Okada Saburōsuke • Born — 12 January 1869 • Birthplace — Saga Prefecture, Japan • Died — 23 September 1939 • Place of death — Tokyo, Japan • Education — Soyama Yukihiko, Horie Masaaki • Alma Mater — * Soyama Yukihiko's studio • Taikokan studio • Tenshin Dojo studio • Known for — Founder of Hongō Painting Institute, painter • Notable Works — * Portrait of a Lady 婦人像 • Women in Red • Japanese Bush Clover • Portrait of Marquess Ookuma's Wife • Style — Yōga • Awards — * Order of Culture, (1937) • First prize of the Tokyo Industrial Exhibition for Image of a Woman (Purple tone). (1907)" • Native Name — 岡田三郎助

His parents were vassals of the samurai Nabeshima clan. He attended a school that taught western-style painting, under the tutelage of Soyama Sachihiko (曽山幸彦). In 1891, he became a member of the "Meiji Bijutsu-kai" (Fine Arts Society) and, after Soyama's premature death, worked with 堀江正章 (堀江正章, 1852–1932), completing his studies in 1893. That same year, he came under the influence of Kuroda Seiki (黒田清輝) and Kume Keiichiro (久米桂一郎), who had just returned from France. They introduced him the Barbizon school and the concept of plein-air painting. In 1896, he became an Assistant Professor of Yōga art at the Tōkyō Bijutsu Gakkō. He was also one of the founding members of "Hakuba-kai" (White Horse Society); a loosely organized artists' association, supposedly named after their favorite type of sake. Later, the Ministry of Culture awarded him a stipend to study in France, where he worked with Raphaël Collin. When he returned in 1902, he was named a full professor. Shortly after, he married the daughter of playwright Osanai Kaoru (小山内薫). After 1907, he served as a juror for the annual art exhibition held by the Ministry (the "Mombushō Tenrankai"). In 1912, he and Fujishima Takeji (藤島武二) founded the "Hongo Institute for Western Painting". Seven years later, he was elected a member of the "Teikoku Bijutsu-in" (Imperial Academy of Fine Arts) and was awarded the Order of the Sacred Treasure. In 1930, the Ministry of Culture sent him to Europe to speak with Hasegawa Kiyoshi and explore the possibility of staging an exhibition of modern Japanese art. Four years later, he was appointed an Imperial Household Artist. In 1937, Okada received the Order of Culture., the highest honor in the Japanese cultural world. Overall, his art career showed an unusually smooth progression. Okada's painting subjects included both landscapes and portraits, and he was especially good at painting portraits of women. Under his brush, women were portrayed with warm skin textures, elegant features, and delicate traits. In 1907 he won the first prize of the Tokyo Industrial Exhibition for "Image of a Woman (Purple tone)". Later, he exhibited "Women in Red", "Japanese Bush Clover", and the "Portrait of Marquess Ookuma's Wife", establishing his reputation in painting portraits of women.

Okada Saburosuke is recorded as having received Order of Culture.