Born in a feudal retainer family of Okayama Domain, Matsuoka Hisashi learned yoga, or the Western-style painting, at Kobu bijutsu gakko, or the Art school of the ministry of public works, and founded Juichi-kai along with Asai Chu and others. Embarked for Italy in 1880 and studied at the Regio Istituto di Belle Arti in Roma, Matsuoka was one of the few privileged painters who benefited from such an opportunity. Returning to Japan in 1888, Matsuoka found that the nationalist ideology was so worshipped by the domestic art community that yoga division was unappreciated in education institutes nor exhibitions. Under such circumstances, Matsuoka co-founded Meiji bijutsu-kai, became the judge at the National Industrial Exhibition, as well as studied western design at the Ministry of Agriculture and Commerce. In 1921, Matsuoka took up the post of the first president of Tokyo koto kogei gakko (the present-day, Chiba University), devoting himself to both reevaluation of yoga in the context of modern Japan and art education for the next generations. 

A dedication with a date of 1935 sealed on the back indicates that the present work was a gift to Wada Kanae, a younger brother of Wada Eisaku, and a yoga painter, as well as a professor at Tokyo koto kogei gakko. Matsuoka resigned from his post in 1928, moving to Zushi in Kanagawa Prefecture the following year. A few works on the subject of the coastal views of seaside towns in the Kanto region, such as Atami or Choshi, are found to be produced around 1933/34, and the present work might be associated with these paintings. Matsuoka’s artistic career could be divided into two periods: before and after the civil service. Free from responsibilities of his long civil service, Matsuoka demonstrates his matured skills and unrestrained expressions of his latter period in this painting.

Matsuoka Hisashi (yoga painter; 1862−1944)
Bizen-born yoga painter. Studied under Kawakami Togai and Antonio Fontanesi. Co-founded Juichi-kai with Asai Chu and others. Moved to Italy and studied under Cesare Maccari. Graduated from Regio Istituto di Belle Arti in Roma. Returned to Japan and founded Meiji bijutsu-kai. Exhibited at the National Industrial Exhibition, Taiheiyo Art Association, and many others. Appointed Tokyo School of Fine Arts professor and principal of Tokyo koto kogei gakko.