Yasuda Yukihiko (1884–1978) was born in Tokyo and is regarded as one of the leading historical painters of modern Japanese art. Active primarily within the Japan Art Institute, he produced numerous works of great artistic merit, focusing on themes from Japanese history and figures spanning from ancient to medieval times. Having studied classical painting, Buddhist art and historical documents in depth, his distinctive style lies in his ability to create compositions imbued with a quiet tension through the use of fine, clear lines and subdued colours. His major works include *The Battle of Kise River*, and he was awarded the Order of Culture in 1948.

When viewing Yuzuhiko’s works, one senses that he does not seek to dramatically exaggerate historical figures, but rather to quietly convey the atmosphere of the moment and the inner lives of the subjects. Whilst his outlines are neat and his colours restrained, this very restraint ensures that even the slightest differences in posture or gaze leave a lasting impression. Rather than presenting history as a glamorous narrative, his ability to make people from distant eras feel close to us is, I believe, the unique charm of Yasuda Yuzuhiko.