Kaii Higashiyama

Kaii Higashiyama was born in Yokohama in 1908 and graduated from the Tokyo School of Fine Arts. After a period of study in Germany, he was drafted into service during the Pacific War. Despite facing profound personal hardships, including the loss of several family members, these experiences deepened his sensitivity to the beauty of natural landscapes.

Following the war, Higashiyama produced a number of iconic works—such as Afterglow and Road—many of which were featured in the prestigious Nitten Exhibition. His art, grounded in a sincere engagement with nature, cultivated a deeply contemplative and universally resonant visual language that expressed the Japanese natural spirit and worldview.

In recognition of his contributions, he was awarded the Order of Cultural Merit in 1969. This exhibition commemorates the 110th anniversary of Higashiyama's birth, celebrating one of Japan’s most revered postwar painters.