絵師金蔵 1812〜1876 Hirose Kinzo Painter

Ekin, it's his nicknamn, his name is Kinzo, the painter.

He was born in Kochi Castle town as the son of a hairdresser family in 1812.

He was blessed with talent for drawing since childhood.

When he was 16years old, he went to Edo now called Tokyo for study painting.

He completed his study drawing course in only 3 years, although it usually took 10 years.

When he was 20 years old, he became a painter of the Tosa domain's chief retrainer.

However, later, he was found himself facing charges of forgery, fake.

We can never know the truth about it.

He was expelled from his professional career and vanished from high society forever.

And most of his paiting works were burned.

After 10 years silence, he came to Akaoka town because his aunt lived there.

He started to live in the old sake celler as his studio and produced artworks for local people, famers and fishermen. He loves to entertain people. The paintings are scenes from Kabuki plays.

In his paitings, you can find his humor.

If you look at the artwork carefully, you may notice its humor.

In Akaoka town, only once a year, people can see the original paintings in local festival.

Thoes his works are well kept for future generations.

By the way, in Museum, we can see replicas, but you can peek two

original artworks from peekholes.

Let's enjoy the Ekin Museum.