Nakagawa Kazumasa
1968
Donated by the artist
This is the original drawing of the logo currently used by the Homma Museum of Art, designed by Nakagawa to commemorate the construction of the new exhibition space (new wing) in 1967 and its opening during the following year in 1968.
Nakagawa Kazumasa (1893–1991) was born in Hongo, Tokyo. Having contributed tanka and poetry to magazines since he was young, his interest in painting was sparked when he encountered Van Gogh and Cezanne, who were both introduced in the literary magazine Shirakaba. In 1914, his first oil painting, Sakagura — created with oil paints gifted by an acquaintance — was selected for the 14th Tatsumi Gakai (an influential painting society) exhibition.
A self-taught painter, Nakagawa developed a style characterized by vivid colour contrasts, and bold compositions and brushwork. In 1915 and 1922, he became a member of the Sōdosha and Shunyōkai western painting art societies respectively, which had been set up by Kishida Ryūsei. His extensive body of work includes excellent oil paintings, Japanese-style paintings, calligraphy, ceramics and essays, and he was awarded the Order of Cultural Merit in 1950.