Saru Gallery
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Biography Irie Shikai 入江之介 (1862 - ?)

Not much is known about Irie Shikai. He was born in Tsukushi, Fukuoka Prefecture, and he was taught by Haizan Yoshitsugu (1846-1915), also referred to as "left-hand Haizan", because he had lost his right hand in the earthquake of 1871, after which he continued with his left. Irie Shikai is generally considered to have belonged to the group of painters that is now often referred to as "New Nanga". A better-known representative is his contemporary Fukuda Kodôjin (1865-1944). Irie Shikai's style is sometimes compared to that of Tanomura Chikuden (1777-1835).
"New Nanga" painters did not submit paintings to the well-known government exhibitions, but went their own individual ways.
Irie Shikai is known to have been involved with the ultranationalist politician Mitsuru Tôyama (1855-1944), but this involvement was fairly short-lived and he soon returned to painting and calligraphy. He is known to have been active as a painter after 1940.