Among the diverse works created by Genichiro Inokuma (1902-1993) during a 70-year career, his abstract “Landscape” paintings produced mainly in the early 1970s and his simply depicted, late-period “Faces” are well known. His “Landscape” paintings—works that define his unique style of abstract expression—emerged from the “city” theme paintings he created during some 20 years living and working in New York in the USA, where he moved in 1955 and freed himself from figurative painting. “Faces,” on the other hand—which he began to paint after the death of his beloved wife, Fumiko, at the age of 85—are works by which he reached a territory beyond distinctions of figurative and abstract, at the end of his career.
This exhibition features works of “Landscape” and “Face” motif painted at intervals by Genichiro Inokuma since his twenties. Inokuma steadily eliminated everything unnecessary from his works, seeking to achieve what he always valued most—a painting that had “beauty as a picture.” We invite you to travel with the artist on his aesthetic journey, through two of his most important motifs.
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Inokuma Genichiro no Sekai Ten (“Genichiro Inokuma’s World” exhibition; MITSUKOSHI, 1990)
[Detail]
