Yoshio Sekine (Japan, 1922-1988) oil on canvas monochrome abstract painting titled "No. 222" comprising grisaille geometric forms within partitioned sections depicting abacuses. Signed with script and character signature, titled, and dated "Jun, '70", en verso of canvas. Multiple written and printed labels with artist, title, date, medium, and dimensions, including Tokyo Gallery and Staempfli Gallery labels affixed en verso of stretcher. Housed in a contemporary wooden frame. Sight: 35 3/4" H x 45 1/2" W. Framed: 39 3/8" H x 49 3/8" W. Biography: "Yoshio Sekine was born in Wakayama, Japan. Sekine met the influential painter Jiro Yoshihara (1905-1972) through the Jiyu Bijutsu Kyoukai (Free Artists' Association) and was involved in the founding of the avant-garde Gutai group in 1954. In 1955, Sekine participated in The 7th Yomiuri Independent Exhibition. In 1958, his work was selected for an exhibition curated by Michel Tapie (1909-1987), The International Art of a New Era: Informel and Gutai, which launched at the Takashimaya Department Store in Osaka and then traveled to Tokyo, Kyoto, Hiroshima, and Nagasaki. Sekine left Gutai and moved to Tokyo in 1959. At The 15th Yomiuri Independent Exhibition in 1963, he presented a painting of an abacus for the first time. From this point, Sekine went on to build his oeuvre around recurring motifs such as abacuses, gates, rail wagons and Mt. Fuji. His other notable exhibitions include Trends in Contemporary Art: Paintings and Sculptures (the National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto, 1964), The 2nd Nagaoka Contemporary Art Museum Award Exhibition (Nagaoka-shi, Niigatam, 1965) and The 1960's: A Decade of Change in Contemporary Japanese Art (the National Museum of Modern Art, Toyko, 1981, later traveling to the National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto). Sekine also received the prestigious Mainichi Art Award in 1952." (Source: Tokyo Gallery, "Yoshio Sekine: Biography")

The collection of Judy and Pete Nebhut, Nashville, TN.

Minute scattered areas of exfoliation. Minor abraision lower right quadrant, measuring approximately 1/4" x 2". Minute area of craquelure to upper right quadrant.