Menu
FREE ART CONSULTATION
PreviewPreview AR previewAR preview Buy Hand Made Painting Buy Hand Made PaintingBuy Image Buy Image SendSend
DetailsDetails Add to favorites Add to favorites DownloadDownload SimilarsSimilars X-RayX-Ray DiaporamaDiaporama

Picture of Woman

Explore the art of tōgō seiji, a pioneering Japanese painter known for his futurist & Western-influenced works. Discover his legacy at the Tokyo memorial museum.

Giclée / Art Print

Museum-quality giclée or canvas print with fast production and flexible finish options. (Buy Hand Made Painting Buy Hand Made PaintingBuy Image Buy Image)

Standard
custom
CM
INCH

Pick from our preset sizes that match the artwork's original proportions.

width
height

You may enter your own dimensions to fit a specific frame or space. If your selected size does not match the original image's proportions, we will either crop the artwork or extend the image with a mirrored or solid-fill edge. A digital mockup will be sent for your approval before production begins.
Please note that the on-screen preview does not reflect the actual cropping or extension. Only the mockup will accurately show the final composition.
While custom sizes are available, we recommend selecting a dimension from the predefined list to preserve the original proportions.

Worldwide Delivery () in 2 weeks instead of standard 4/5 weeks. (23 August)

why_choose_icon
Free Worldwide Express Shipping
why_choose_icon
High-Quality Linen Canvas
why_choose_icon
Full Shipping Insurance
why_choose_icon
Customs Tax Refund Guarantee
why_choose_icon
True Color Matching Guarantee
why_choose_icon
60-Day Return Policy (Defects Only)
why_choose_icon
100% Money-Back Guarantee
why_choose_icon
Bulk Discount Offer

Total Price

$ 63

reproduction

Picture of Woman

Giclée / Art Print

Reproduction Size

-

Total Price

$ 63

Collectible Description

Born in Kagoshima in 1897, Seiji moved to Tokyo while he was still young and after graduating from Aoyama Gakuin high school, he studied art under ARISHIMA Ikuma. In 1916, his first entry to the Nikaten (Second Division Society) Exhibition, a work in the Futurist style, was accepted and this caused quite a sensation. In 1921, he went to study in Europe where he came into contact with Duchamp and Tristan Tzara, he also visited Filippo Tommaso Marinetti of the Futurists in Italy and was made most welcome. Upon his return to Japan, he exhibited the works he had produced in Europe at the Nikaten Exhibition and was made a member of the Nika Society. After the war, he worked to reestablish the Nika Society and became its leader. TOGO Seiji’s pictures of women, with their soft coloring, became popular in post-war Japan, but the work shown here dates from the early thirties, before he had established the so-called ‘Togo style’. It was from around the end of the twenties that women in Western garb, known as ‘modern girls’, first made an appearance in Japan and in this work we see a sophisticated woman wearing a hat, black gloves and a white dress standing in front of a background consisting of geometric shapes. It is typical of his refined style of work, reflecting his childhood in the capital and his acquaintance with European avant-garde artists.

Artist Biography

Ivan Albright: A Master of Illusion and Decay

Born in North Harvey, Illinois, on February 20, 1897, Ivan Le Lorraine Albright was a uniquely American painter whose work defied easy categorization yet profoundly impacted the development of magic realism. His life, intertwined with privilege and a deep fascination with the human condition, shaped an artistic vision characterized by meticulous detail, unsettling beauty, and a haunting exploration of decay, corruption, and the passage of time. Albright’s career unfolded against the backdrop of significant social and artistic shifts in the early 20th century, ultimately establishing him as a pivotal figure in American art.

Albright's early life was marked by relative comfort and access to education. He received a formal education at Northwestern University and the University of Illinois, but it was his brief training at the Art Institute of Chicago and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts that truly ignited his artistic passion. Following World War I, he began to develop his distinctive style, one that would become instantly recognizable for its hyper-realistic depiction of subjects often imbued with a sense of unease or impending doom. His early influences included the Neue Sachlichkeit movement in Germany, which emphasized clarity and objectivity, alongside the meticulous realism of artists like Gustave Courbet.

The Rise of a Unique Style: Realism and the Uncanny

Albright’s artistic breakthrough came with *Into the World There Came a Soul Called Ida* (1930), a portrait of an aging woman gazing into a mirror. This painting, rendered in startlingly detailed realism, immediately captivated audiences with its unsettling beauty. The subject's pale complexion, wrinkled skin, and vacant stare conveyed not just age but also a profound sense of isolation and the relentless march of time. This work established his signature style: an exaggerated realism that pushed beyond mere representation to explore psychological states and the darker aspects of human experience. He frequently employed a limited palette of muted colors—greens, browns, grays—to heighten the atmosphere of decay and melancholy. The use of light was particularly crucial; Albright often utilized a diffused, almost ethereal illumination that seemed to emanate from within his subjects, lending them an otherworldly quality.

Major Works and Recognition

Throughout the 1930s and 40s, Albright produced a remarkable body of work, including *That Which I Should Have Done I Did Not Do (The Door)* (1931-1941) – a haunting depiction of a decaying door with a funeral wreath hanging from it – and *Picture of Dorian Gray* (1943-44), inspired by Oscar Wilde’s novel. The latter, commissioned for the film adaptation, became one of his most famous paintings, capturing the decadent beauty and moral corruption at the heart of the story. Albright's work was exhibited widely, including in New York City at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Venice Biennales. He received numerous accolades, including the Temple Gold medal at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and a medal for best picture at the “Artists for Victory” exhibition.

Legacy and Influence

Ivan Albright’s artistic legacy extends far beyond his individual works. His meticulous realism, combined with his exploration of psychological themes and unsettling imagery, profoundly influenced subsequent generations of artists. He is often associated with magic realism, a genre that blends fantastical elements with starkly realistic depictions of everyday life. His work continues to be studied and admired for its technical brilliance, emotional depth, and enduring power to evoke a sense of unease and wonder. Albright’s ability to capture the fleeting beauty of decay and the complexities of human existence cemented his place as one of America's most significant artists of the 20th century. He died in Woodstock, Vermont, on November 18, 1983, leaving behind a body of work that remains both captivating and profoundly unsettling.

tōgō seiji

tōgō seiji

1897 - 1978 , Japan

Quick Facts

  • Artistic Movement Or Style: Neue Sachlichkeit
  • Artists Or Movements Influenced By This Artist: ['Magic Realism']
  • Artists Who Influenced This Artist: ['George Stout']
  • Date Of Birth: Feb 20, 1897
  • Date Of Death: Nov 18, 1983
  • Full Name: Ivan Le Lorraine Albright
  • Nationality: American
  • Notable Artworks:
    • Into the World There Came a Soul Called Ida
    • That Which I Should Have Done I Did Not Do (The Door)
    • Picture of Dorian Gray
    • And Man Created God in His Own Image
  • Place Of Birth: North Harvey, Illinois, USA
Explore artworks organized by themes, styles, and characteristics.