Page 126 - Sotheby's London Fine Japanese Art Nov. 2019

THE PROPERTY OF A FR ENCH COLLECTOR

INOUE YUICHI (1916–1985) MODERNISING CALLIGRAPHY

Born in Tokyo, Inoue Yuichi (1916–1985) ism, the group referred to abstract painting, ment and action painting of that time – as
first practiced to become a painter while aesthetics, zen-philosophy and actively if turning his back to all the conventional
working as an elementary school teacher. In interacted with foreign abstract artists such calligraphy world. However, he eventually
1941 He finally decided to focus on calligra- as Pierre Soulages. Inoue’s works became returned to characters and drew one of his
phy, under a pioneer of avant-garde calligra- highly acclaimed worldwide after being the most renowned early masterpieces,
phy, Ueda Sokyu (1899 – 1968). At that time, displayed at the exhibitions of Japanese Gutetsu. Gutetsu, shown at the fourth São
there was a surge of avant-garde calligraphy Calligraphy at Museum of Modern Art, New Paulo Biennnale in 1957, was later included
– they sought liberation from conventional York, in 1954 and L’encre de Chine dans la in A Concise History of Modern Painting (1968)
calligraphy which encouraged to follow clas- calligraphie et l’art Japonais Contemporains in by Sir Herbert Read.
sic examples, and some of the artists even 1955 which travelled around five European By exploring to the depth of characters,
ceased from writing characters in order to countries. Inoue attained his dynamically emotional
express the pure beauty of ink and spaces. Around 1955, Inoue abandoned writ- style that is not limited to calligraphy in
In 1952, Inoue formed Bokujin-kai with ing characters and started to draw abstract a traditional sense. Many of his works are
four other ambitious calligraphers. Pursuing forms with a broom and enamel paints, drawn with one character (Ichiji-sho), such as
their own calligraphy beyond traditional- which resembled the Art Informel move- Hin [poor], Ai [love], Yume [dream].

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INOUE YUICHI (1916–1985) EXHIBITED works from 1954. It shows a rather restrained
SHOWA PERIOD, 20 TH CENTURY Exposition de la Calligraphie et de la Peinture style compared to his later works. The
Calligraphique Moderne du Japon, at the gallery character, Hin, had been drawn continuously
HIN (POVERTY)
Mme Colette Allendy, 14th January to 13th throughout his career and it undoubtedly
oil on canvas, the reverse signed Inonue February 1955. had a special meaning for him. For Inoue who
Yuichi and dated 1954 LITERATURE barely survived the Great Tokyo Air Raid in
60 x 46 cm., 233/4 x 181/8 in. 1945, the scenery of burnt-out ruins may have
Unagami Masanomi, YU-ICHI Catalogue been the representation of Hin and also of
PROVENANCE Raisonné Volume 1 (1949-1969), (Tokyo, 1998), himself starting again from that point. Hin is
Arthur Aeschbacher, who purchased it in 1955 p. 67, CR no: 54003. a self-portrait of Inoue who lived his life away
from the artist This rare oil painting with an inscribed from material culture.
character of Hin [poor] is one of Inoue’s early
£ 50,000-70,000
€ 56,500-79,000 US$ 62,500-87,000

Back Exposition catalogue cover Inoue Yûichi (1916–1985)
1955
Asahi Shinbun
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