図版解説　平成二十一年度に寄贈された黒田清輝作品について―《舟》《芍薬》《日清役二龍山砲台突撃図》《林政文肖像》二点―

In the fiscal year of 2009, five pieces of work by Kuroda Seiki were donated to the Tokyo National Museum with the article to be stored and exhibited in the Kuroda Memorial Hall. They are the works below. Boat, 32.5 x 45.5 cm, oil on canvas Peonies, 34.8 x 26.0 cm, oil on panel Portrait of Hayashi Masahumi, 25.3 x 18.4 cm, pencil on paper Portrait of Hayashi Masahumi, 8.5 cm (Length), ink on paper Battle of Niryúsan in Sino-Japanese War, 16.0 x 24.2 cm, pencil, ink, watercolor on paper The former two works were gifted by Kuroda Seiki himself to his younger sister, Mine (or Mineko), who was the only sister having the same parents, Kuroda Kiyokane and Yae. Mine was married to Kitamura Hirotaka and had a girl named Toshiko. Boat was kept by Toshiko's daughter and Peonies was kept by Toshiko's son. The last three works were donated by the grandson of the sitter of the portrait, Hayashi Masahumi. These works were gifted by Kuroda to Hayashi Masahumi who shared the experience of Sino-Japanese war. This article describes the basic data of these works and tries to consider the background in Kuroda's career as a painter. As for Boat and Peonies, we find the names of the works and the owner's, Kitamura Mineko, and black/white illustrations in Complete works by Kuroda Seiki (edited by Wada Eisaku, Shinbishoin, 1925). Although Boat does not have signature or dates whether on the surface and the back of canvas or the frame, the sketchbook No. 21 by Kuroda has very similar image in pencil depicting a boat. This sketchbook has Kuroda's handwriting “1890” and “1891” on the front page, so it is considered that Boat was painted in 1891. After accepted to the Salon des artiste Français with Reading, Kuroda worked on a painting depicting some women playing in open-air near the water. This subject matter of leisure time in open-air had been tried by Kuroda until the end of his career. Boat is considered to be one of the works related to this subject matter. On the back of Peonies, we see Kuroda's handwriting saying “Kuroda Seiki, with memories, Meiji 37, to Mr. and Mrs. Kitamura Hirotaka and Mineko.” In the diary in 1904, Kuroda wrote that he worked on two works depicting peonies in May and June. According to these materials and the colors of the painting, Peonies is considered painted in 1904. The works related to the Sino-Japanese War were given to Hayashi Masahumi whom Kuroda met and shared the experience in China in 1894 to 1895. Hayashi was a correspondent of Mainichi Shinbun in the Sino-Japanese War and later became the second president of Hokkoku Shinbun. He actively participated in the movement helping the independence of Philippines. On the surface of Battle of Niryûsan in Sino-Japanese War, we find Kuroda's handwriting saying “à mon ami Hayashi sourvenir cordial S. K. Décembre 1894,” which tells us the date of this painting. On the back of this work, there is Kuroda's handwriting in Chinese ink saying “A scene of Japanese army attacking the base of Niryûsan.” On the back of Portrait of Hayashi Masahumi in pencil, there is Kuroda's handwriting saying “Portrait de Mr. M Hahashi, exploralear de correspondent de Mainichi Shinbun de Tokio.” Since Kuroda wrote he met Hayashi on December 27, 1894 and left him in February 1895, this portrait is considered as the work during this period of time. Another portrait of Hayashi in ink shows very similar image with the portrait in pencil, but the size is much smaller. It seems the image after the on in pencil. Each of these five works has very unique and significant position in Kuroda's career as a painter.