Research on Japanese western-style picture frame in modern Japan: Focusing on artworks delivered to Tokyo Fine Arts School by Kenkichi Nagao

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K00168
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 01060:History of arts-related
• Research Institution: Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music
• Principal Investigator: Nakae Kana 東京藝術大学, 学内共同利用施設等, 特任助教 (90899303)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 洋風額縁 / 額縁 / 磯谷商店 / 長尾建吉 / 東京美術学校 / 洋画 / 明治美術

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Kenkichi Nagao (1860-1938) was the first picture frame maker who made Japanese western-style picture frames. Through several research on his picture frames, I uncovered his inspiration source, his production method, and his decoration design for western-style picture frames. This research clarified 2 main points of Nagao’s picture frame. First, the influence from picture frames made in Western countries, especially France and the UK, and second, unique style in Japan. My results were presented in 3 articles on Annual Report of The University Art Museum and in 2 presentations on the Council of University Museums in Japan. I made a list for the image archives of picture frames and magazine articles in modern Japan as a basis for the further research on this subject.

Free Research Field

日本近代美術史

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究は日本近代洋画の研究史において看過され、作品画像から常にトリミングされてきた「額縁」の存在に光を当て、洋画の黎明期を支えた洋風額縁を専門的に研究した点に学術的な独自性がある。本研究で行った額縁の調査は、日本における額縁研究に新知見と新資料をもたらし、国際的な潮流から遅れを取る日本の当該分野の研究に先鞭をつけた。さらに、調査過程で協力を仰いだ全国の美術館および海外研究者と額縁に関する情報を交換できるネットワークを構築できたことも、当該分野研究の発展に資する本研究の意義であると言えよう。