Imao Keinen (1845 - 1924)

The Shijo style painter.

Keinen was born in Kyoto as the 3rd son of Imao Isuke who was a manager of a Yuzen dyeing shop.
Keinen's real given name was Inosaburo.
He became a disciple of a Ukiyo-e painter when he was 11 years old.
3 years later, in 1858, he became a disciple of Suzuki Hyakunen.
However, his house was destroyed because of the Hamaguri Rebellion in 1864, and, for some time from the Meiji Restoration in 1868, the Japanese-style painting was in dark days.
Keinen drew many designs of Yuzen dyeing clothes for his life.
He was accpeted for the Kyoto Expostions held in 1875 and 1877.
From this period, he did a lot of sketching of flowers & birds scientifically and precisely.
In 1880, he became a teacher of the Kyoto Prefectual School of Painting Art, together with his master, Suzuki Haykunen.
In 1885, Keinen was accepted for the first prize of the Nara Exposition, and, his name became widely known.
In 1893, he sent his work to the The Chicago World's Fair, and, he won a prize.
He won the silver prize at the Paris Expo held in 1900, the gold prize at the Saint Louis World's Fair held in 1904.
From 1907, he was appointed as a judge of the Bunten Exhibition.
In 1919, he became a member of the Imperial Art Academy (Teikoku Bijutsu-In).
He enjoyed Chanoyu (Japanese tea ceremony) and Bonsai (miniature potted plant) in his twilight years.
He deceased on October 5 of the 13th year of the Taisho era at the age of 79.