Yozo Hamaguchi, (1909-2000) - Japanese

        Hamaguchi studied sculpture at the Tokyo Art School in 1927, but left his studies in 1930 to go to France; he returned to Japan in 1939. In 1953 he settled in Paris. During this period he made copperplate etchings but from about 1955 began producing his unique black and white and colour mezzotints. In 1957 he was awarded prizes at the S?o Paulo Biennale and the first International Biennial Print Exhibition in Tokyo. He moved from Paris to San Francisco in 1981. In 1985 he held his first solo exhibition in Japan at the National Museum of Art in Osaka; the show comprised over 160 prints.
Hamaguchi was undoubtedly the leading contemporary exponent of the art of mezzotint and his virtuoso works have led to the present day popularity of this highly laborious technique. His prints, many in very small format, are each a tour de force of the technique.


1909
Born Hirokawa, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan

1927 - 1929
School of Fine Arts Tokyo, Japan

1998
Inauguration, Museé Yozo Hamaguchi Tokyo, Japan

Exhibitions

2000
Color Mezzotints, Vorpal Gallery San Francisco, CA

1999
The Art of Mezzotint, Vorpal Gallery San Francisco, CA

1998
Retrospective, Keiko Minami, Tokyu-Kichijoji Department Store Musashino, Japan

1997
Exposition des Oeuvres, Le Printemps Tokyo, Japan

1995
Keiko Minami, Takaoko Museum Takaoko City, Japan

1994
Musashino City Exhibition, Osaka, Japan

1992
Retrospective, Ohtani Memorial Museum Nishimiya City, Japan

1991
Retrospective, Kunstverein fur die Rheinlande und Westfalen Dusseldorf, Germany

1988
Retrospective of Prints and Studies, Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum Tokyo, Japan

1985
Retrospective, Yurakucho Art Forum Tokyo, Japan

1983
, Vorpal Gallery San Francisco, CA and New York, NY