KUMAGAI, Goro

Gorou Kumagai (or Goro Kumagai, 熊谷吾良) was born in 1932 in Hirosaki (Aomori Prefecture), near the tip of Honso, Japan’s main island.  He graduated from the Musashino Art School’s Department of Western Painting in 1956.  Kumagai became a member of the Japan Print Association in 1961 and a member of the painter’s group Kokugakai (国画会会) in 1963).  Kumagai Gorou started to teach woodcutting in 1963.  From 1969 to 1998 he taught at Saitama University, teaching also at Musashino Art University and Bunka Gakuin University.  The artist returned home in 1999 and passed away January 24, 2017 at the age of 86.  Kumagai’s color woodcuts are composed in a simplified geometric style.  While abstraction is found in his oeuvre, he seemed to have a predilection for still lives.  Fish and birds dominate his work, while he also depicted other animals.  One can also find plenty of tabletops, generally inhabited by a bottle or glass of wine.  Kumagai also liked to show simple landscapes and villages, mostly in muted colors, all peaceful and elegant.
See the artist's own website for more images.

Goro Kumagai – Kumagai Gorou - 熊谷吾良 – Buildings -建物 – mokuhanga – Japanese color woodcut Sold
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Buildings

KUMAGAI, Goro

建物 (original Japanese title) Color woodcut.Edition unknown.Signed twice in pencil, both in the image and below.