100th Anniversary KOMAI Tetsuro Exhibition Part 2
KOMAI Tetsuro and TAKIGUCHI Shuzo

Feb. 8 [Tue.] ― Feb. 26 [Sat.] 2022 11:00-19:00
Gallery closed on Sunday, Monday, and national holidays.





*Click image to view in original size


In the spring of 2020, Watanuki Ltd. hosted "KOMAI Tetsuro Exhibition Part　1 -Artist in young days and Patron-" as the 100th anniversary of KOMAI Tetsuro (1920-1976), known as the pioneer of the modern copperplate printing.

In our "Part.2 -KOMAI Tetsuro and TAKIGUCHI Shuzo-" exhibition, we are exhibiting representative works by the artist, along with works by the poet/critic TAKIGUCHI Shuzo, who had his eyes on KOMAI's talent from early days, and works of other artists who have influenced KOMAI.

When KOMAI started copperplate printing in 1930s, there were not many foregoers to learn from, except few exceptions such as HASEGAWA Kiyoshi in Paris. Hence KOMAI was deeply influenced by artists from other genres such as literature.

Exhibiting works include full 16 prints from Poetry book 'And They Called It Hanka (Envoi)' made with poet ANDO Tsuguo, watercolors and decalcomanie by TAKIGUCHI Shuzo, lithograph works of respected artists Odilon REDON and Paul KLEE, woodblock prints by ONCHI Koshiro, the pioneer of an abstract art and copperplate prints by HASEGAWA Kiyoshi. With works and materials, we introduce you the charm of KOMAI's works and also the flow of how printing art has developed widely as a culture.

●Exhibition Catalogue


"100th Anniversary KOMAI Tetsuro Exhibition" Catalogue
Published: 8th Feb. 2022
Publisher: Watanuki Ltd. / Toki-no-Wasuremono
A5 variant, 56 pages
Text in Japanese only

Supervision: Prof. KURITA Hidenori (Nagoya University Graduate School of Humanities Department)
Text: Prof. KURITA Hidenori (Nagoya University Graduate School of Humanities Department), Mr. TSUCHIBUCHI Nobuhiko(Leading Takiguchi Shuzo researcher)
Editorial & design: SHIBATA Takashi

JPY 1,540- (Tax included) + shipping charge


■KOMAI Tetsuro (1920-1976)
Born 1920 in Tokyo, Japan. Begun to learn a Copperplate printing from Takeo NISHIDA in 1935. He graduated the Tokyo Art School in 1942. After the World War II he exhibited works as a member of the Nihon Hanga Kyokai (Japanese Print Society) and Shunyokai artists’ association and also contributed prints to a variety of exhibitions. In 1951 he received an award in the first São Paulo Biennale for a representative work of his early period, Momentary Illusion, the same exhibition where Saitô Kiyoshi received an award (and had his breakthrough as an artist) with Steady Gaze. In the following year he was also given an award at the Lugano International Print Biennial. In 1953 he had his first solo exhibition at Shiseido Gallery. From 1954 to 1955 he studied in Paris. The opening exhibition of the Minami Gallery in 1956 was the Tesuro KOMAI Exhibition. From 1972 to 1976, he lectured at the Tokyo University of the Arts. Komai played a significant role in the promotion of Copperplate printing as an art form in the post-war Japan. He died in 1976 at the age of 56.


Gallery view


KOMAI Tetsuro PL.6 "On Aging" from Poetry book 'And They Called It Hanka (Envoi)'

KOMAI Tetsuro PL.12 "And They Called It Hanka (Envoi)" from Poetry book 'And They Called It Hanka (Envoi)'

Wall: Odilon REDON "Beatrice", "Child's Head with Flowers", KOMAI Tetsuro "Toy of Time"
Table: KOMAI Tetsuro PL.1 - PL.5 from Poetry book 'And They Called It Hanka (Envoi)'

KOMAI Tetsuro Cover, PL.14 "Untitled" from Poetry book 'And They Called It Hanka (Envoi)'

Paul KLEE "Terrible Dream", "Three Heads"

HASEGAWA Kiyoshi "Temple of the tree and village", "Village de Volx"

KOMAI Tetsuro PL.7 "Evening Shower", PL.8 "Evening Shower" from Poetry book 'And They Called It Hanka (Envoi)'

KOMAI Tetsuro PL.9 "In the Kitchen" from Poetry book 'And They Called It Hanka (Envoi)'

KOMAI Tetsuro PL.10 "At the Table, the End of Summer" from Poetry book 'And They Called It Hanka (Envoi)'

ONCHI Koshiro "Lyrique: Thankful Tear for Merciful Affection"

ONCHI Koshiro "Bathing"

TAKIGUCHI Shuzo "V-04"、"Strip dessin" (V-08)、"V-44"

TAKIGUCHI Shuzo "V-31"、"V-21"、"V-12"

KOMAI Tetsuro PL.11 "Etching", PL.13 "Pruning" and PL.15 "Little Dog" from Poetry book 'And They Called It Hanka (Envoi)'

KOMAI Tetsuro Poetry book 'And They Called It Hanka (Envoi)' Case

KOMAI Tetsuro "Praise to Koshiro Onchi"

KOMAI Tetsuro "Shadow" from ⟨Four Seasons of Japan⟩ - Winter

KOMAI Tetsuro "Hills" from ⟨Four Seasons of Japan⟩ - Spring, "Trees" from ⟨Four Seasons of Japan⟩ - Autumn

KOMAI Tetsuro "Reef" from ⟨Four Seasons of Japan⟩ - Summer

KOMAI Tetsuro "12 works from Nine dreams"
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