ARTIST: MASUO IKEDA ( 1934-1997)
TITLE: CIRCLES AND WAVES, GREEN AND BLACK
SiGNED: YES, SIGNED IN PENCIL
TYPE: COLOR ETCHING
YEAR: 1956
DIMENSION: SHEET: 8 3/4" x 11" IMAGE: 4 3/4" x u"
CONDITION: Great condition aside a some crease/smudge margin only.
This is a very unique and a very rare etching as it is not numbered and we have been told it was a "one-off". A VERY RARE OPPORTUNITY TO ACQUIRE THIS VERY EARLY PRINT FROM 1956.
MASUO IKEDA IS ONE OF THE MOST BRILLIANT CONTEMPORARY JAPANESE ARTISTS. HE IS AN INTERNATIONALLY ACCLAIMED ENGRAVER AND IS AN ARTIST OF MULTIPLE TALENTS. HE WAS ACTUALLY BORN IN CHINA AND AFTER WW2 HE WAS REPATRIATED WITH HIS PARENTS TO NAGANO PREFECTURE. HE IS PRIMARILY SELF TAUGHT AND ONLY LATER WENT TO AND GRADUATED FROM THE NAGANO SCHOOL OF ART IN 1952.
HE BECAME A FAMILIAR FIGURE IN WESTERN ART CIRCLES. HE STARTED WINNING PRIZE AFTER PRIZE, INCLUDING WINNING THE GRAND PRIZE AT THE TOKYO INTERNATIONAL BIENNALES OF ART. HE THEN WON IN PARIS, VIENNA AND VENICE AND BECAME ONLY THE SECOND JAPANESE TO WIN FIRST PRIZE.
HE WAS THE FIRST JAPANESE TO HAVE A ONE MAN SHOW AT THE NEW YORK MUSEUM OF MODERN ART.