Shigeru Hatsuyama, I Will Take a Picture of You, the Butterfly, 1933 (private collection)

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2023.9.9 sat - 2023.11.30 thu

Commemorating the 50th Anniversary of Shigeru Hatsuyama’s Passing: Unfinished Dreams

Since first attracting attention at the age of 22 for his work in the fairy tale magazine Otogi no Sekai (The World of Fairy Tales), Shigeru Hatsuyama (1897–1973) was an essential artist in the world of “Doga” (art for children) for more than 50 years spanning Japan’s Taisho to Showa periods. He skillfully blended the decorative beauty of the Edo period, which he had been exposed to since childhood, with modern Western sensibility to create works characterized by free expression in accordance with his aesthetic sense. Even now, some 50 years after his death, Hatsuyama’s work continues to appear new, conveying a sense that is brimming with freshness. From the latter half of the 1930s, he also produced many self-engraved woodblock prints, which also opened a window onto the original world of his artwork.
In this exhibition, we will trace the life of Shigeru Hatsuyama, presenting the art for children and woodblock prints he produced, along with manga, cover illustrations, and original artwork from unpublished picture books. We hope you will enjoy this sparkling, dreamy world filled with flowing lines and vibrant colors.