QI BAISHI (1863-1957)

Suma Yakichiro (1892-1970) was a notable Japanese diplomat and art collector who was a close friend of Qi Baishi. As an important diplomat during the Showa era, Suma was acquainted with many Chinese artists while he was posted in China, working in Guangzhou and Nanjing. With his deep understanding of Chinese modern paintings, he was able to set up a comprehensive collection within ten years. Unlike the collection of many other Japanese collectors of the time, Suma’s collection is mostly comprised of Chinese modern paintings, amongst which are many masterworks by Qi Baishi. He also played an important role in promoting Qi Baishi’s paintings in Japan.