Miki Suizan

Suizan Miki (né Saiichiro Miki) was a nihonga painter and print designer active during the early 19th century. Born in Kinashi, Hyogo Prefecture, Suizan studied nihonga (Japanese-style painting) with Seiho Takeuchi between 1903 and 1913. He actively exhibited his paintings in the state-sponsored exhibitions such as Bunten in 1913, and later Teiten and Shin-Bunten. He developed a reputation as a painter of bijin-ga, or “pictures of beautiful women.” Between 1924 and 1925, Suizan completed a total of 14 Shin Hanga style prints for the Kyoto-based publisher Shotaro Sato. The first installment of Selection of Noted Places in Kyoto captured landscapes, while the second series of the same name focused on beauties. All of these works appeared in the historic 1930 Toledo exhibition of Shin Hanga. In 1932, the Teiten exhibition recognized Suizan’s skill as a painter, giving him the status of mukansa, meaning that Suizan did not have to follow the usual application process for the state-sponsored exhibition. Between 1952 and 1957, Suizan traveled to the United States and exhibited his paintings. Today, Miki's paintings and prints can be found in esteemed museums worldwide.