Tadashi Nakayama (中山 正, Nakayama Tadashi) was a Japanese woodblock print artist, working in a style that combines influences from traditional Japanese ukiyo-e prints and Western painting. If you’re familiar with his work, it’s likely from his horse-inspired woodblocks, his profiles of girls with flowers, or his Byzantine-inspired butterflies. This print, Buffoonery, is one where he experimented with abstractions in a bold way, but still printed from woodblocks. Rarely seen print by this mid-century artist.
The Woodblock Print
This print measures 12 1/2″ x 21 3/4″ so we’re categorizing it under a “double oban” even though it’s not that size. The image is printed on board, which is common for the artist. Pencil signed and dated in the bottom margin.
About the Artist
Tadashi Nakayama (中山 正, 1927-2014) was born in Niigata. In 1945, he enrolled at Tama College of Art to study oil painting however, he left after two years to pursue a career in woodblock prints and lithographs. His work is typically abstract working in a style that combines influences from traditional Japanese ukiyo-e prints and Western painting, concentrating on depictions of horses, young women, cranes and butterflies, and using a progressively lighter pallet as his career developed. His compositional style also evolved, becoming increasingly complex as he moved from flat and simple works towards prints inspired by Persian, Byzantine and Renaissance compositions. His prints earned him global success and have been featured in galleries and collections in Europe, America and Asia.
