牛島憲之
夕月富士
1987(昭和62)年　油彩・カンヴァス　53.3×91.0cm

Noriyuki Ushijima
Yuzuki Fuji (Mt. Fuji at Dusk)
1987 (Showa 62), Oil on canvas, 53.3 × 91.0 cm

山中湖から見た富士山の夕暮れのひとときです。山上には月が昇り、湖をゆく一艘の小さな船は雄大な自然に暮らす人々の気配を感じさせます。

本作は牛島憲之が87歳のときに描いた作品です。それまで多くの画家が描いた｢富士山だけは描くまい｣と思っていた牛島ですが、別荘のある伊豆への往復の際に富士山を見て、その心は次第に変化していきます。｢その美しさがだんだんと私の心の中に蓄積されていき、あるとき突然限界点に達したのでしょう、急に描きたくなったのです。私には私の富士があるはずだ、と。八五の時でした｣。火山が生み出した富士の美しい姿は、人間の一生を超えて、人々の心に悠然と聳(そび)え立つかのようです。

This is a moment of dusk at Mt. Fuji as seen from Lake Yamanaka. The moon rises above the mountain, and a small boat on the lake evokes the presence of people living amidst the grandeur of nature.

This work was painted by Noriyuki Ushijima at the age of 87. Until then, Ushijima had resolved never to paint Mt. Fuji, a subject depicted by many artists. However, during his trips to and from his villa in Izu, his feelings gradually changed as he observed Mt. Fuji. 'Its beauty gradually accumulated in my heart, and at some point, it must have reached a tipping point, and I suddenly wanted to paint it. I thought, "There must be my own Fuji." I was 85 at the time.' The beautiful figure of Fuji, created by volcanic activity, seems to majestically stand in people's hearts, transcending a human lifetime.