Brief history and description
Photographer of ancient art. Born in Himeji City, Hyogo Prefecture. Real name is Seiji. Ogawa Seiyo wanted to become an artist, but established the Asukaen ancient art photography shop in Nara in 1922 on the recommendation of Aizu Yaichi. His representative works include the Muroji Taikan collection of photographs, and the book Daido Unkou no Sekkutsu, etc.
Relationship with Yaichi
Yaichi recognized the talent Seiyo had for photography, and set him on the road to becoming a photographer of historic art. Yaichi made great use of Seiyo’s photographs as material for his research into the history of art.
Comment by Yaichi
None of the photographs I have seen up until now have emphasized the beauty of the subject to the slightest extent. To me, the difference is profound. I encouraged him to take a copious amount of photographs of just the head, or, if possible, from the rear. (Quoted from Bukkyo Bijutsu no Igi.)
Related works
Muroji Taikan collection of calligraphy photographs
A collection of photographs edited by the Nara Institute for the Study of Art, of which Aizu Yaichi was chairman, and published by Asukaen in November 1924 (photograph by Ogawa Seiyo).
