林 文塘

Hayashi Bunto (1882–1966) was a Nihonga (Japanese-style) painter born in Kyoto. He studied under Maekawa Bunrei and Yamamoto Shunkyo and was known for his landscapes. He showed works such as Loquat Blossoms at exhibitions of Shunkyo's studio, the Sanaekai (private painting school), later became a member of the Koso Painting Society, and served as a councillor of the Sanaekai. In 1914 his Woodcutter was accepted at the 8th Bunten (Ministry of Education Art Exhibition), his first acceptance there, and received an honorable mention; he exhibited at the Bunten again in 1915, 1916 and 1918. In 1919, when the Teiten (Imperial Art Exhibition) was launched, he founded the Nihon Jiyu Gadan (Japan Free Painting Circle) with Iguchi Kashu, Ikeda Keisen and others to work freely outside the government exhibitions, and showed works such as Five Views of Eastern Kyoto at its regular exhibitions. He traveled to China several times, including a 1922 tour with fellow members of the group. When the Sanaekai was dissolved in 1943, he joined in founding a new artists' group and served as one of its directors.