Bright abstract print featuring a geometric background in cream, black, and gray with semitransparent shapes superimposed upon it: two blue blobs, a red-brown oblong shape, and a prominent yellow rounded shape with three nearly circular holes in it.

Lyrique No. 19

1952

Onchi Kōshirō Japanese, 1891-1955

Japan

This is probably the only impression of this print that Onchi Kōshirō ever made. It was first shown at the Art Institute in 1960 in an exhibition that was meant to offer a comprehensive look at the sōsaku hanga (creative print) movement. As he did here, the artist often used the word “lyric” (or its French form, lyrique), to title abstract works, to encourage viewers to think of his images as poetic expressions.

Paper print

Arts of Asia