Yozo Hamaguchi (1909-2000) is a copper-plate artist based in Paris, who took active part in the latter half of the 20th century. He encountered Berggruen Gallery handling Picasso and Klee, and he won many awards at international competitions. His works based on deep black, are filled with calm serenity that makes one to stay in front forever, and always attracting viewers.

It was around 1950 that Hamaguchi began producing copper-plate engraving in earnest. He was lodging at the atelier of Yoshio Mori (1908-1997), a Western-style painter, who was also a member of Jiyu Bijutsuka Kyokai, and spent the days to face unfamiliar engravings. Even though it was for a short period, it was an important time for Hamaguchi to come out as an artist. (around summer 1949 – spring 1951)

In 1951 Hamaguchi made the first solo exhibition of copper-plate engraving successful, and in 1953, he moved to Paris and pioneered his own technique of “color mezzotint” and started to be recognized by the world.

On the other hand, Mori also received a good reputation for the autumn exhibition for his oil painting “Two Persons” which was produced in the summer of 1950, which impressed many painters as a new post-war human image.

This exhibition introduces materials for the momentary exchange between Yozo Hamaguchi and Yoshio Mori who supported Western-style painting society in Japan. It is composed of approximately 50 pieces of Yozo Hamaguchi’s copper-plate prints, 6 oil paintings by Yoshio Mori, and other drawings and materials.

Two of them studied art in Paris before World War II, and each of them worked hard to try to create new arts after the war. There is no effect on each other’s style, however, it would be appreciated if you could feel their noble aspiration for art which is something common in their works.