Red Work

Vibrant color in this composition is magnetic !

(1911-1984) Born in Tokyo, Tajima studied at Nihon University, graduating in 1932 and the Tokyo School of Arts. Completing his education in 1934, he specialized in western style painting.

During the 1960's and 1970's he developed his typical densely pigmented abstract style which was based on the ideals of East Asian calligraphy.  His belief in Zen Buddhism also contributed to the appears of this work.

His technique is described "consists of brushing intensely colored dyes over a dark-colored medium, imparting luminosity to the whtie areas, while enriching the basic colors of the print.  The textured areas fade off into dark planes, seeming to float on a cool liquid. . . This rare combination of intricacy and confident simplicity makes Tajima's work both exciting and reassuring".

This man was a brilliant colorist.

Tajima's work is found in the permanent collections of the Cleveland Museum of Art; the Los Angeles County Museum of Art; the Fine Arts Museum of San Francisco; the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria; the Art Gallery of New South Wales; the Carnegie Museum of Art; the National Museum of Art in Osaka.  The British Museum holds 89 examples, all donated by his wife Toshie Tajima.