Hishida Shunsō (1874–1911) was a painter born in Nagano Prefecture who introduced new forms of expression to Japanese painting during the Meiji period. He studied at the Tokyo School of Fine Arts and, under the tutelage of Okakura Tenshin, participated in the activities of the Japan Art Institute alongside artists such as Yokoyama Taikan. He is known for moving away from the conventional style reliant on contour lines and instead seeking to express atmosphere and light through the blending of colours and variations in tone. Although these endeavours were initially criticised as the ‘Mōrō-style’, they went on to exert a significant influence on later modern Japanese painting. His representative works include *Fallen Leaves* and *The Black Cat*.

When viewing Shunsō’s works, one feels that not only the forms of the depicted subjects, but even the atmosphere enveloping them, seem to blend into the canvas. Although the trees and animals are depicted in a tranquil manner, the overlapping of colours and the use of negative space create a profound sense of depth. The appeal of Shunsō’s work seems to lie not in his attempt to dismantle traditional Japanese painting, but rather in his endeavour to infuse it with new sensibilities—namely, light and atmosphere. Although his life spanned just 36 years, his quiet innovation profoundly altered the course of modern Japanese painting.