Kobayashi Kokei 小林古径

小林古径 Kobayashi Kokei (1883-1957)
A Japanese-style painter from Niigata Prefecture. He moved to Tokyo in 1899 (Meiji 32) to study Japanese painting under Kajita Hanko. Hanko bestowed upon him the artistic name Kokei. In 1914 (Taisho 3), he was selected for the 1st Revival Japan Art Institute Exhibition and recommended for membership. As a Japan Art Institute scholarship student, he travelled to Europe to study alongside Maeda Seison. Kokei recognized the importance of sketching from life in painting, and is said to have sketched plants in his garden and birds he kept there.