Domoto Hisao

Hammerless Gallery, New York
Acquired from the above by the present owner

This work is in very good condition overall. There are signs of handling and wear along the edges of the canvas. There is a minute loss at the upper edge 1cm from the upper left corner, as well as a small area of surface craquelure 12cm from the top edge and 30cm from the left edge. Under UV light inspection there is evidence of small spots of retouching at the four corners. Framed under Plexiglas.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

A contemporary of Imai's, Domoto Hisao was also born in 1928. He went to Paris for 10 years, starting in 1955, and during the first half of that period, at least, he affiliated himself with the so-called ''Informal'' school of abstraction, taking over a Left Bank atelier from the American painter Sam Francis. Almost immediately upon his arrival in France, Domoto's works took on an Abstractionist flair. In Ensembles Binaires No. 15, much attention has been paid to the balance of black paint and white space. The stark contrast between light and dark in the composition invokes the cosmic relationship of the sky and the earth. Domoto can be understood as among the first of all Japanese artists to be able to marry traditional structured Western composition with the lyrical freedoms of Eastern philosophy.