In the same year, Masakazu TOYAMA, who was a literature professor at the University of Tokyo and a supporting member of the Meiji Art Society, pointed out as the biggest problem poor painting subjects and a lack of philosophy, whether it is a Japanese-style painting or a Western-style painting, and he criticized Naojiro's 'Kiryu Kannon' in particular.
また同年、東京大学文学科教授で明治美術会賛助会員の外山正一が日本画･洋画にかかわらず、最大の問題として画題の貧困と思想の欠如とを指摘し、とりわけ直次郎の「騎龍観音」をやり玉に挙げた。