安井曽太郎
焼岳(上高地晩秋図)
1941(昭和16)年 油彩・カンヴァス(パネル張り) 39.0×50.7cm
Sotaro Yasui
Yakedake (Late Autumn in Kamikochi)
1941 (Showa 16), Oil on canvas (mounted on panel), 39.0 × 50.7 cm
焼岳は長野県と岐阜県にまたがる活火山で、その周囲には北アルプスの玄関口･上高地が広がります。焼岳は約2,300年前に最後のマグマ噴火を起こし、今も噴煙を上げています。大正4(1915)年には水蒸気爆発によって麓の梓川(あづさがわ)に土石流が流れ込んで、大正池が生まれました。木々が沈む清らかな水面には、季節によって美しく色彩を変える焼岳が映ります。
昭和13(1938)年、安井曽太郎は前年に患った中耳炎の静養を兼ねて上高地に滞在、2年後にもこの地を訪れて本作を描きました。｢燒岳は終始噴煙していて仲々面白い山で、見所によるとちょっと凄い山に見えた｣、｢お手本の自然は少しもごたごたせず、全景が一つになって見えた。自然の調子にはくるいがないのだ｣と安井は述べています。本作では暗い青であらわされた大正池が、立ち枯れた白樺のリズムによって明るい遠景へと続き、山を染める黄葉と、所々露わになった岩肌が画面を装飾的に彩ることで、秋に燃える焼岳の姿が美しく描き出されています。
Yakedake is an active volcano straddling Nagano and Gifu Prefectures, with Kamikochi, the gateway to the Northern Alps, spreading around it. Yakedake last erupted about 2,300 years ago and still emits smoke. In 1915, a steam explosion caused a debris flow into the Azusa River at the foot of the mountain, creating Taisho Pond. The clear water surface, with submerged trees, reflects the beautifully changing colors of Yakedake with the seasons.
In 1938 , Sotaro Yasui stayed in Kamikochi to recuperate from an ear infection he had suffered the previous year. He visited the area again two years later and painted this work. Yasui remarked, "Yakedake is always emitting smoke and is quite an interesting mountain. Depending on the viewpoint, it looked somewhat awe-inspiring," and "The natural scenery, which served as a model, was not cluttered at all, and the whole view appeared as one. There is no discord in the tone of nature." In this work, the dark blue Taisho Pond continues into the bright background through the rhythm of the standing dead birch trees. The yellow leaves coloring the mountain and the exposed rock surfaces here and there decoratively adorn the canvas, beautifully depicting the burning autumnal appearance of Yakedake.