Artist Gen Yamaguchi (Japanese, 1896–1976)
Title Untitled
Date 1950s–1960s
Medium Color woodblock print on paper
Dimensions Image: 33 1/8 x 17 7/8 in. (84.1 x 45.4 cm)
Plate: 33 1/8 x 17 7/8 in. (84.1 x 45.4 cm)
Sheet: 37 x 20 3/8 in. (94 x 51.8 cm)
Credit Line Gift of Gilda Epstein in memory of Charlotte Gerrard, Eskenazi Museum of Art, Indiana University
Accession Number 2004.10
About this Work
Yamaguchi Gen was the son of a prosperous business man, but as an idealistic young man joined a group that renounced materialism. Yamaguchi, along with his friends, worked menial jobs although his family could have supported him. In his capacity as a laborer, Yamaguchi was hired by the Onchi Kōshirō’s (1891–1955) family. Onchi, curious about Yamaguchi, ferreted out his past and discovered his interest in woodblock printing. Soon Yamaguchi was helping Onchi and producing his own modest prints. Onchi’s home was a de facto meeting place for many of Japan’s established as well as up-and-coming print makers. Sekino Jun’ichirō (1914–1988), Azechi Umetarō (1902–1999), and Yamaguchi were frequent visitors at the informal meetings that lead to the foundation in 1937 of the “First Thursday Society” (Ichimokukai), a group with mutual interests in art and in woodblock prints, which met on the first Thursday of the month at Onchi’s house. Yamaguchi, of all of Onchi’s protégées, adheres most closely to his mentor’s example. Most of his work is abstract and frequently makes use of “found” objects.
