Seated Woman (婦人像) by Japanese artist Sōtarō Yasui (安井曾太郎) is a “western-style” oil on canvas painting depicting a young Japanese beauty wearing a purple and pink striped kimono with floral obi, sitting in a large wooden chair. It was used as one of ten ¥80 yen postage stamp in Japan in 2012 to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto. The painting is expressive as Yasui uses broad brushstrokes and blocks of bold (almost saturated) color to create a sense of form and fluidity. The combination of the woman's attire, posture, and the simple background creates a feeling of stillness and quiet, yet unsettled, contemplation. The woman with short black hair styled in a “modern” bob and wearing brilliant red lipstick and nail polish is stunningly beautiful in a vibrant purple and pink striped kimono with a floral-patterned cream colored obi (sash) plus geta (Japanese sandals). She sits calmly with her hands clasped in her lap and her gaze is directed away from us. The chair is a dark-colored, simple wooden chair with a slightly curved back and vertical spindles. Yasui was born to a merchant class household in Kyoto, but dropped out of high school against his family's wishes to pursue a career in the arts. He studied oil painting at the Shōgōin Yōga Kenkyujō and Kansai Bijutsu-in. In 1907, at 19, he moved to Paris to study at the Académie Julian. Forced to return to Japan with the outbreak of World War I, in 1915, he made his debut at the Nikakai Exhibition, where he displayed forty-four paintings he had made in Paris. For the next ten years, Yasui suffered from recurring health problems and did not participate in exhibitions, but did perfect his style, which incorporates clear outlines and vibrant colors, combining western realism with softer touches of traditional nihonga techniques. In 1930, he displayed these techniques in "Seated Woman." Yasui was nominated for membership in the prestigious Imperial Fine Arts Academy in 1935.

婦人像 (Seated Woman) - 安井曾太郎 Sōtarō Yasui (Japanese) - Oil on canvas / 1930 - 京都国立近代美術館 National Museum of Modern Art (Kyoto, Japan) #womeninart #art #洋画 #oilpainting #安井曾太郎 #JapaneseArtist #京都国立近代美術館 #SotoroYasui #YasuiSotaro #beauty #bskyart #portraitofawoman #美人 #MoMAK #きもの #womensart #JapaneseArt