See famous works of art in Kita-ku that have charmed people for generations

Taisho and early Showa era Western-style painter Yuzo Saeki was born in Nakatsu. His depictions of Paris had a unique flair, and he painted many masterpieces despite living only to the young age of 30. The Nakanoshima Museum of Art, Osaka opened on February 2, 2022, and showcases Saeki’s artwork that was donated to the city of Osaka. Visitors can finally appreciate Saeki’s inspiring paintings in his hometown of Kita-ku.

The short, turbulent life of a gifted painter

Born in 1898, Yuzo Saeki was the second son of the priest at Kotokuji Temple in Nakatsu. His talent began to manifest when he began oil painting at age 17. After graduating from what is now Tokyo University of the Arts, he headed to Paris at the end of 1923.
Criticized by Fauvist Vlaminck (1876 – 1958) for being too academic, his mild, impressionist style of painting took a sudden, sharp turn, and he established his own unique heavy-handed style of painting Parisian street scenery.
After returning to Japan temporarily, he again went back to France. He began producing one famous work after another, using vivid colors and delicate line work to paint city posters and cafes. His chronic illness worsened, however, and he passed on in his beloved Paris at 30 years of age. His period of painting after his first trip to Paris lasted a mere four years. You can see the intense passion he poured into his art, as if he were sacrificing a bit of himself each time.

Saeki’s famous paintings in Nakanoshima

The Nakanoshima Museum of Art, Osaka opened on February 2, 2022 thanks to paintings donated to the city of Osaka nearly 40 years ago by entrepreneur and art collector Hatsujiro Yamamoto. Yamamoto’s beloved collection plays a central role in the museum, featuring 59 pieces by Saeki, the most of anywhere in Japan.

Postman, Yuzo Saeki (1928/Nakanoshima Museum of Art, Osaka)

One of Saeki’s most famous pieces. Saeki, who was bedridden due to illness, painted this white-bearded postman who happened to visit one day in March 1928, imbuing it with his unique sense of energy.

Brickkiln, Yuzo Saeki (1928/Nakanoshima Museum of Art, Osaka)

This is the first Saeki painting that Yamamoto saw. Dissatisfied with his creativity in Paris, he painted this house while staying in Morin on the outskirts of the city in search of countryside simplicity. The brick furnace building is shrouded in a mysterious aura.