Self-portrait 

Fujishima Takeji painted this self-portrait, using oil on canvas, at a time when Japanese artists were grappling with how to represent themselves and their nation in a rapidly modernizing world. Takeji's artistic training included both traditional Japanese and Western techniques. You can see the influence of European portraiture in the dramatic lighting, the artist's gaze, and the careful rendering of his features. However, his Japanese identity is also subtly present. Consider the smooth brushwork and the simplified forms, reminiscent of traditional Japanese ink painting. This blending of styles reflects Japan's complex relationship with the West during the Meiji era, a period of rapid industrialization and cultural exchange. Institutions like the Tokyo School of Fine Arts, where Takeji taught, played a key role in shaping this new artistic identity. To understand this painting fully, we can consult historical archives, exhibition catalogues, and biographical studies of the artist. The meaning of art is always tied to its social and institutional context.