山口 薫

画家たちが憧れた画家 山口 薫

-具象と抽象、そのあわいに生まれた静かで、確かな詩情一

1907年、群馬県生まれ。

東京美術学校油画科を卒業後、渡仏。パリでフォーヴィスムや抽象絵画の潮流に触れ、帰国後は自由美術家協会に参加、さらに戦後にはモダン・アート協会の創設に関わるなど、日本の戦後美術を内側から更新してきた。

1950年代以降は、赤や黄を基調とした明快な色面と単純化された形態を重ね合わせ、風景や家屋、樹木といった身近なモチーフを”詩的抽象”へと昇華。その絵画は多くの画家たちに影響を与え、今なお再評価が続いている。

日本戦後美術史において、山口薫は特異な位置を占める画家である。具象と抽象を対立項としてではなく、往還する思考として引き受け、色と形の重なりのなかに、記憶や風景、そして人間の感情を静かに織り込んでいった。

穏やかな画面に宿る強度と構成性は、時代を超えてなお、観る者の内側に深い余韻を残す。 略歴

1907年：​群馬県箕郷村（現・高崎市）に生まれる。​

1925年：​東京美術学校（現・東京藝術大学）西洋画科に入学。​

1930年：​同校卒業後、渡仏し、グランド・ショミエール芸術学校で学ぶ。​

1933年：​帰国し、国画会展に出品。​

1937年：​自由美術家協会を結成し、モダンアート運動の中心的存在となる。​

1950年：​モダンアート協会を結成。​

1959年：​毎日美術賞を受賞。​

1960年：​芸術選奨文部大臣賞を受賞。​

1964年：​東京藝術大学教授に就任。​

1968年：​逝去。享年60。​

主な作品所蔵美術館

群馬県立近代美術館

東京国立近代美術館​

何必館・京都現代美術館​

神奈川県立近代美術館

茨城県近代美術館

新潟県立近代美術館​

静岡県立美術館

世田谷美術館

Kaoru Yamaguchi (1907–1968): The Painter Admired by Painters

Between Figuration and Abstraction: A Quiet Yet Enduring Poetic Vision

Born in Gunma Prefecture in 1907, Kaoru Yamaguchi graduated from the Oil Painting Department of Oil Painting, Tokyo School of Fine Arts (now Tokyo University of the Arts) before traveling to France. While in Paris, he encountered the currents of Fauvism and abstract painting. Upon returning to Japan, he joined the Jiyu Bijutsuka Kyokai (Free Artists Association) and later played a key role in the establishment of the Modern Art Association after World War II, contributing significantly to the renewal of postwar Japanese art from within.

From the 1950s onward, Yamaguchi developed a distinctive visual language characterized by vibrant fields of red and yellow and simplified forms. Drawing upon familiar motifs such as landscapes, houses, and trees, he transformed them into a uniquely poetic form of abstraction. His work profoundly influenced subsequent generations of artists and continues to attract renewed critical attention today.

Within the history of postwar Japanese art, Yamaguchi occupies a singular position. Rather than treating figuration and abstraction as opposing categories, he embraced them as modes of thought in constant dialogue. Through layered compositions of color and form, he quietly wove memories, landscapes, and human emotions into his paintings.

The strength and structural clarity underlying his serene compositions continue to resonate across generations, leaving a lasting impression on those who encounter his work. Biography

1907: Born in Misato Village, Gunma Prefecture (present-day Takasaki City), Japan.

1925: Entered the Department of Oil Painting at Tokyo Fine Arts School (now Tokyo University of the Arts).

1930: Graduated from Tokyo Fine Arts School and traveled to France to further his studies.

1937: Co-founded the Free Artists Association (Jiyu Bijutsuka Kyokai) and became a leading figure in the development of modern Japanese art.

1950: Co-founded the Modern Art Association.

1959: Received the Mainichi Art Award.

1960: Received the Minister of Education Award for Fine Arts.

1964: Appointed Professor at Tokyo University of the Arts.

1968: Passed away in Tokyo at the age of 60.

Public Collections

The Museum of Modern Art, Gunma

The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo

Kahitsukan – Kyoto Museum of Contemporary Art

The Museum of Modern Art, Kamakura & Hayama

The Museum of Modern Art, Ibaraki

The Niigata Prefectural Museum of Modern Art

Shizuoka Prefectural Museum of Art

Setagaya Art Museum