ONUKI, MASANOSUKE (1925-1988)

"Seated Nude" (c.1960)
mixed media on paper on board
39 x 26cm
signed lower right
*private collection, Melbourne
 
Onuki was a prominent Japanese Mid Century Expressionist. Soon after he graduated the Pacific Art School in 1943, he was deployed in a World War II munitions factory and then in the army. It wasn’t until after the war that he was able to resume his career as an artist. Known widely for his illustrations for the novels of Jugo Kuroiwa, Masanosuke Onuki was an artist of the Showa age. His only solo show during his lifetime occurred at the Fuji Television Gallery in Tokyo in 1972. Though his unique sense of style seemed to reflect a confident personality, in reality he suffered greatly after the untimely death of his son and wife. He often painted women, with earlier works focusing on their figures and later ones showcasing his specific style. His works are represented in numerous International Institutions, and he was honoured in 2018 with a large Retrospective at the Kichijoji Art Museum in Japan!!