Details

Fukui began his artistic career in post-war occupied Japan as an innovator in Japanese prints by producing work utilizing his unique mimeographic process. Though he was very active in creating over 200 different designs, the time of his print production was short-lived, representing only ten years between 1955-1965. Painting became his sole focus after 1965, and strictly dedicated himself to producing oils on canvas. 

Fukui discovered his artistic voice in the short years of his print production. He was fascinated by texture and light and found his experimentation with landscapes rewarding. For Fukui, the space created within his work was of chief importance, while, in contrast, the subjects of his compositions were secondary. Fukui once described his aesthetic objective to his friend and fellow painter Shin Miyazaki as follows:

“What I really want to depict is something like soil or space. So, I’d rather not have the forms that are in my works. Forms of objects manifest themselves from the stains I depict. Life and death are perceived from the patches on the wall or from the space. Only then do objects and forms spontaneously appear before the eyes of viewers.”

This magnificent painting reflects the artist’s well-articulated mature style. The composition pays careful attention to the ornate and detailed background. Quilt-like in its effect, the artist stitches together varying colors and textures and interlaces them with light and shadow. Delicate fine lines appear like cracks throughout, giving this work a striking psychological quality. The nude appears to emerge directly from this sumptuous space delineated by Fukui. 

Connoisseur's Note

This striking painting is among the artist's best works on this subject. The painting boasts gold metallic pigments that greatly contribute to the work’s fascinating use of light. The piece is signed by the artist in the lower left corner.