With a Certificate of Authenticity from the Kumagai Morikazu Authentication Association.
Frame：H43.5cm W64.5cm
This is an original calligraphic work by the Western-style painter Morikazu Kumagai, who was celebrated as the "Hermit of the Art World."
The inscribed phrase is "Tenchi Ujo" (Sentience in Heaven and Earth). It symbolizes Kumagai’s compassionate worldview—the belief that all things in this universe, from the heavens to the earth, possess life and are imbued with deep affection.
Bearing the signature "Age 97, Morikazu" in the lower right, this is an exceptionally rare and authentic work created in the final year of his life. His unforced, simple, and pure brushwork reveals a profound spirituality achieved at the end of his long artistic journey.
The piece is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity from the "Morikazu Kumagai Ink and Light Color Painting Registration Committee." Housed in a modern wooden frame, this masterpiece effortlessly complements any interior, whether traditional Japanese or contemporary Western.
Throughout his 97-year life spanning the Meiji and Showa eras, Morikazu Kumagai was cherished by many, leaving behind a vast and beloved body of work including oil paintings, ink drawings, and calligraphy.
Morikazu KUMAGAI
1880 – 1977
Starting his career in realism and passing through an expressionist phase, Kumagai eventually established a unique method in Western-style painting known as the "Kumagai Style." This signature aesthetic is characterized by extremely simplified forms, distinct outlines, and flat compositions, resulting in a highly abstract yet representational style. A regular contributor to the Nika Exhibition (Nika-ten), he was widely revered as the "Hermit of the Art World."
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