MODERN PROBLEMS IN PAINTING 



BY OKAKURO KAKUZO 



[Okakuro Kakuzo, b. Tokio, Japan, 1863. Graduate of Tokio University. Di- 

 rector of the School of Fine Arts, Tokio, 1890-98. Member of Archaeological 

 Commission of the Imperial Japanese Government, 1888-1905. Blue ribbon 

 of the Order of Industry, Senior Fifth Rank; Sixth Rank of the Order of the 

 Jewel; Knight Commander, St. Michael, Bavaria. President of the Nippon 

 Bijitsuin, Vice-President of the Society of Japanese Painters. Author of Ideals 

 of the East; Awakening of Japan.] 



MR. CHAIRMAN, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, In thanking you for 

 the honor you have conferred on me in inviting me to address you 

 on the " Modern Problems in Painting, " I cannot but acknowledge 

 that I approach you with great trepidation. It is barely a half-cen- 

 tury ago that we children of Japan were admitted into the comity 

 of nations at the gracious instance of your first Embassy under 

 Commodore Perry. Since that time the name of America has been 

 for us associated with the best of Western culture. We have been so 

 accustomed to sit at your feet and listen while you discoursed that 

 it seems strange, indeed, that one should ever stand and face your 

 learned audience. My only reason for nerving myself to this heroic 

 effort is because of my belief in your time-honored courtesy and the 

 sympathy shown by you for all that pertains to my country. My 

 address shall chiefly concern the problems as seen from the stand- 

 point of Japan. It is to be a confession, therefore an appeal, an 

 appeal, therefore a protest. Protests are more or less wearisome. 

 It is needless to say that my imperfect command of your language 

 will further tax your patience. 



Perhaps there is some shade of humor in the situation if we con- 

 sider that the present difficulties of Japanese painting are partly 

 due to your introducing us to the lights and shadows of a modern 

 national existence. It may be that a cruel retribution has come 

 over you in being asked to lend your ears to my incompetent pre- 

 sentation of the very problems of which you yourselves are the 

 remote and innocent cause. For I must warn you beforehand that 

 there is nothing new or instructive in what I am going to submit to 

 your consideration. So much has been already voiced by the illus- 

 trious thinkers of America and Europe that my utterance can have no 

 special value except that it comes out of the Far East. 



I hope, however, that the Eastern point of view may not be 

 altogether devoid of interest to you. Your modern painting, and the 

 circumstances under which it is created, are still seen by us against 

 the background of our own ancient traditions. Our criterions may 

 not be orthodox in your eyes, but they at least represent the stand- 



