Murrayama Kaita's 1916 Self-Portrait is a vivid record of a burning short life. Being profoundly connected to Murrayama as a decadent painter and romantic poet, the painting carries within itself the elements of both technique and history. Murryama was fond of using the nickname "Red Demon" (oni) when referring to himself. Such image can be traced through his portrait: Murryama does not paint himself with softness of reality; instead, he depicts himself as a wild and untamed creature pursuing his own desires and needs. The Self-Portrait was made during the era of Taishō in Japan; thus, the painting represents the confrontation of a certain time and place. Fauvism movements spread throughout Japan, opposing to the traditional culture of the country. Murrayama was inspired by these style sheets; in order to attract attention in times of rebellion among youth. The Self-Portrait has become an artifact of the same turbulent period, capturing with exquisite immortality the destructive nature of his lifestyle, artistic rebellion, and imminent tragedy of his 22 years of existence. He used thick layers of oil paint in a range of dark colors, mainly brown, red-violet, and ochre, which were set off by pure white and yellow highlights. Instead of thinning the oils to allow smooth transitions, he used the medium in thick and bold brush strokes. He went ahead and applied white and black oil paint in thick layers to define the thick frames of his glasses.
Murayama crafts an intense psychological presence through a raw, uninhibited brushwork technique. The dramatic color palette relies on thick applications of dark brown, fiery yellow, ochre, and deep crimson tones directly onto the face. This aggressive color modeling creates deep sculptural shadows, while the stark white spectacles draw the viewer directly to his piercing gaze. It stands as a brilliant example of Japan's Taisho-era avant-garde movement, radiating a stifling yet deeply resolute inner passion.
