On Kawara: 1952–1956 Tokyo

First Edition, 1991. Book measures 11 x 8.5 inches.

Black cloth-covered boards with blind stamped text and artwork affixed to front cover. Housed in embossed cardstock slipcase. All text is bilingual in Japanese and English. Preface by Tsuji Masuda. Includes two essays by Makoto Oda and Tadashi Yokoyama. This massive volume documents On Kawara’s creative work prior to his famous Date Paintings which include figurative and abstract works created in Tokyo from 1952–1956. This book reproduces the complete Bathroom series (1953–54; Tokyo National Museum of Modern Art), Events in a Warehouse (1954), and a number of figurative paintings and drawings executed in Japan. Following the artworks are pages consisting of newspaper headlines from this formative five-year period, also printed on newsprint. A scarce catalogue and valuable resource on the artist’s work of this period. 

Book is in Fine condition. Slipcase is Near Fine showing only faint signs of handling. An excellent copy.