Kōshirō Onchi

Place: Tokyo

Born: 1891

Death: 1955

Biography:

Kōshirō Onchi was a Japanese print-maker and photographer, born in Tokyo in 1891. He is widely regarded as the father of the sōsaku-hanga movement in twentieth century Japan. Onchi's work was part of the painting event in the art competition at the 1932 Summer Olympics. He was known for his strong tendency towards abstract art and his contributions to the development of abstract printmaking in Japan after 1945.

Early Life and Education

Onchi came from an aristocratic family that had close connections with the imperial family. As a child, he received the same kind of education that a prince received. Onchi was trained in both traditional calligraphy and modern western art. After contacts with Takehisa Yumeji in 1909, between 1910 and 1915, he studied oil painting and sculpture at the Tokyo School of Fine Arts. In 1912, he founded the print and poetry magazine called "Tsukubae".

Artistic Career

Onchi was also a book designer in the early days when it was impossible for sōsaku-hanga artists to survive by just doing creative prints. He designed over 1000 books in his career. In 1928, he joined with seven other sōsaku hanga artists to work on the 100 Views of New Tokyo series, to which he contributed thirteen prints. Onchi's prints range from early representational to postwar abstract prints. As an early advocate of the sōsaku-hanga movement, Onchi believed that artistic creation originates from the self. Sōsaku-Hanga Movement The sōsaku-hanga movement was a significant art movement in early 20th-century Japan that emphasized individual expression and self-expression in woodblock printing. It diverged from the traditional ukiyo-e collaborative system, where the artist, carver, printer, and publisher engaged in division of labor. Onchi's work is held in several museums worldwide, including the National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo, the British Museum, and the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

Photography

Onchi also worked on photography, particularly in the spirit of shinkō shashin. He worked on plants, animals, and objects, and created photograms. Onchi exhibited his photograms in 1951 but otherwise dropped out of photography.

• Check out Kōshirō Onchi's artworks on Wikioo.org.
• Learn more about the Sōsaku-hanga Art Movement on Wikioo.org.
• Read about Kōshirō Onchi's biography on Wikipedia.

Onchi passed away in 1955, but his legacy lives on as a pioneer of the sōsaku-hanga movement and a leading figure in Japanese modern art. His work continues to inspire artists and art enthusiasts around the world.