Hashimoto Kansetsu

Who was Hashimoto Kansetsu?

Hashimoto Kansetsu was a painter of nihonga who was active in the Kyoto art world during the Showa and Taisho eras.

Born in Kobe, he was the son of the painter Hashimoto Kaikan, from whom he gained a love of Chinese culture. He studied at Chikujokai, a private school established by the famous nihonga painter Takeuchi Seiho, but eventually withdrew due to differences of opinion. He visited Europe in 1921 and after that spent part of almost every year in China. Many of his paintings were inspired by Chinese scenery or Chinese classical literature. His former residence in Kyoto is now a museum of his work called the Hakusasonso, or Hashimoto Kansetsu Memorial House.