<b>PILGRIM FOR COLOR AND FORM</b> / Koshiro Onchi1950<b>SOLD</b></em>

Details

Koshiro Onchi was one of the leading printmakers of 20th-century Japan, credited with producing the country’s first work of abstraction in 1915. Masterfully adept in both abstract and representational formats, Onchi's prints are celebrated for their stylistic variety. He imbued his work with an expressive, thought-provoking, and emotionally potent quality, creating pieces that remain unrivaled today. With his charisma and dedication, Onchi nurtured the flame of the Sosaku Hanga movement during the dark years leading up to and during World War II, encouraging artists to create prints for art's sake.

"Pilgrim for Color and Form," 1950, is part of a small body of abstract designs executed as monoprints on nonabsorbent paper. The composition was most likely produced with paper blocks, allowing Onchi the freedom to create prints with relatively less physical effort during periods when he struggled with a neurological ailment that eventually took his life in 1955. This highly expressive composition is printed on photographic paper, which is highly nonabsorbent, restricting the pigment solely to the surface of the paper. As a result, this small group of works represents the best examples of Onchi's highly expressive, wet, and spontaneous printing technique, providing the design with a strikingly active and compelling surface.

The title suggests the composition is a study of color and its inherent interaction with form and, on a greater scope, composition. The design’s earth tones may suggest organic forms. The active surface of the composition further enhances the organic element, imbuing the work with lifelike movement.

Connoisseur's Note

This work is an exceedingly rare, self-printed, and likely unique impression. The print is signed with the artist's ONZI stamp in the lower right. Notably, this work was acquired from the Roy G. Cole Collection. Cole, a member of the Western occupying forces in postwar Japan, assembled one of the most notable collections of Sosaku Hanga. The Cole Collection was sold at auction at Sotheby’s in New York City on June 19th, 1990.