Hamaguchi, Yozo (1909 - 2000)

Regarded as one of the finest Mezzotint artists in history, his early studies in sculpture were at the Tokyo Ecole des Beaux Arts. In 1930, he traveled to Paris where he studied painting, sculpture and drawing at the Academie Grande Chaumiere. The poet e.e.cummings introduced him to the mezzotint technique, and present him with a set of tools. While in Paris, the artist delevoped his imagery from direct observation; his main subjects being still life subjects, including fruit, bottles and insects.

He received numerous prizes at international exhibitons around the world, as well as recognition through museum and gallery exhibitions. Prior to his passing, Hamaguchi was honored by the establishment in Tokyo or a museum in his name, Musee Hamaguchi Yoro.

His works are in collections world-wide, including The Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Museum of Modern Art, New York; Bibliotheque Nationale de Paris; The Art Institute of Chicago; The Fine Art Museum of San Francisco; The National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC; and the British Museum, London.