About the artist:

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 Sao Paulo Biennale and the first International Biennial Print Exhibition in Tokyo. His first solo exhibition, which comprised over 160 prints, was held in Japan, at the National Museum of Art in Osaka. 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. Hamaguchi’s mezzotints and virtuoso works have led to the present day popularity in this technique. His highly laborious prints are usually produced in very small format. He died at the age of 91 in 2000. 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