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YOSHIHARA Jiro

1962

Yoshihara, who was the leader of the avant-garde artists'group GUTAI and also a painter himself,went through Surrealism, abstraction, and Infomel and finally arrived at the "circle." He has once said "I paint only the circle lately, because it is so useful," and true to his words, he painted this very simple and primary form again and again in the last ten years. This work was first shown in the inaugural exhibition of the Guta Pinacoteca in 1962, and its shape was later chosen as the emblem of the museum. Not only is the painting important for this historical significance, but it is the first piece in the important "Circle series" to come. The monochrome picture, resembling a piece of calligraphy done in only one stroke of the brush, has the serenity of work that is prefect and complete in itself. The surface, however, shows intricate brushstrokes and a dense matière, which gives a sense of stoic control. The circle in this series of paintings would grow more and more geometric and clean. It is as if his unforgivingness toward himself for "not being able to do even a simple circle right" made him pursue this shape with such persistence.

Profile

YOSHIHARA Jiro
1905-1972

Infomation

Genre	Paintings
Material/technique	Oil on canvas
Dimensions	182×272cm
Acquisition date	1981
Accession number	1975-00-0554-000
Keyword	1981　「現代美術の動向I　1950年代―その暗黒と光芒」東京都美術館