HOSSOYA Masayuki
Born: 1943, in Tokyo
Medium: Etching with Drypoint and Aquatint

“Playful,” “joyous” and “wistful”—all describe the etchings of Masayuki Hossoya. His subjects tend to be whimsical: tightrope walkers, a line of can-can dancers, contorted acrobats and circus animals frolicking. People are almost always rendered as stylized caricatures.

Masayuki Hossoya never intended being a printmaker. “Watching me doodling with a ball pen one day, an acquaintance mentioned my drawings would look good as etchings. Simple-minded and believing as I am, I went out and spent all my money to buy a press and some etching tools – all on that one comment. I’d had discouraging comments from a drawing instructor at night school, and no personal sense of having the smallest spark of artistic promise. Yet, after over 35
years, here I am still drawing.”

Mr. Hossoya studied and lived in France as a young man. That European experience had a profound effect on subject and style of drawing. Flamenco dancers, Federico Fellini and Pierrot clowns are each displayed in his figurative etchings.

Printmaking has a long history in Japan, and the artist combines that Oriental tradition with Occidental sensibilities. In Japan, there is a philosophical notion “Shi kata ga nai” to accept whatever life offers – the good with the bad, the sad with the happy. In his artwork, Masayuki Hossoya presents some of life’s tribulations in addition to the triumphs. But in each we realize he has a profound understanding of humanity, whether a tearful woman, a glib ventriloquist, or a pair of kissing lovers. In each of these etchings the artist succeeds in celebrating mankind.

The Ren Brown Collection is very pleased to present Mr. Hossoya’s first American exhibition.

Exhibitions:
Tokyo
Osaka
Sapporo
Kamakura
Belgium: Prize Winner
Switzerland
Cherbourg, France