Role of the Clown

Kichijoji Art Museum

Until Nov 3

Artists

Hideo Hagiwara

Could the freedom and fluidity of drawing be achieved through woodblock printing? Dissatisfied with the expressive limitations of conventional relief printing, Hideo Hagiwara spent years experimenting before developing an intaglio technique for woodblocks. The result was a light, supple line reminiscent of drypoint etching. Combining relief and intaglio printing also opened new artistic possibilities, giving rise first to the Fairyland series, and later to the Circus and Clown series. As Hagiwara recalled, "I greatly enjoyed the world that emerged. Cheerful, and at times delightfully talkative." Animated by graceful linework and vibrant color, these prints radiate a remarkable sense of openness and vitality.

This exhibition features the Circus series (1968), the Clown series (1969) and three etchings titled Clown, also produced in 1969. Although they share the same subject, the etched clowns reveal a darker, more grotesque character, recalling Hagiwara's early Twentieth Century series. Comprising eleven prints inspired by the Old Testament and Greek mythology, the series was first presented at the artist's solo exhibition at Yoseido Gallery in Ginza in 1956. Hagiwara began making woodblock prints while recovering from tuberculosis during nearly three years in a sanatorium, and this exhibition marked the artist's first solo presentation of prints after leaving the hospital.

The Twentieth Century series, created in 1955 during Hagiwara's convalescence, also includes Sad Pierrot, a work centered on the figure of the clown. With its white-painted face and diamond-patterned costume reminiscent of Harlequin, the image reveals an enduring fascination with this theatrical character. Hagiwara was also an exceptional collector, assembling a wide-ranging collection that included everything from ukiyo-e prints to African ethnographic objects. Among these were prints by Pablo Picasso (1881–1973), whose depictions of clowns are among the most celebrated in modern art.

This exhibition offers an opportunity to discover Hagiwara's distinctive vision of the clown and to reflect on how one of Japan's most original printmakers engaged with the legacy of Picasso.

Schedule

Now in session

Jun 11 (Thu) 2026-Nov 3 (Tue) 2026 80 days left