Café Fouquet's 45.3×39cm by Masahiko Hama
This watercolor captures the bustling scene of a Parisian street corner cafe, with red parasols spread out outside and people eating and drinking under them.
The building's bright façade symbolizes urban elegance, and the mansard roof and chimney at the top of the building represent the typical Parisian architectural style.
Green trees sway along the street, harmonizing with the lively scenery of the cafe.
The transparent colors and light brush strokes unique to watercolors vividly express the active atmosphere of the city, allowing the viewer to experience a slice of everyday life in Paris. The bright, warm colors vividly reproduce the familiar cityscape.
1938 Born in Suwa City, Nagano Prefecture
1958: Moves to Tokyo and studies at Tokyo YMCA night school
1960 First exhibited at the Nika Exhibition
1965 “Izanagi/Izanami” was selected for the first time at the Nika Exhibition (selected every year thereafter)
1968 First visit to France
1970 Winner of Nika Exhibition 50th Anniversary Award for “Newspaper Seller in Paris”
1971 “Church Wedding” won special selection at Nika Exhibition
Scouted by Ginza Bara Gallery and becomes exclusive to Bara Gallery.
1972 Won the Nika Exhibition Paris Prize for ``Pedestrian Heaven'' and was given the right to study abroad in Paris for 5 years as a supplementary prize.
1974 “Masahiko Hama: Poetry and Heart of Paris” exhibition held at Bara Gallery
1975 “Masahiko Hama: Letters from Paris” exhibition held at Bara Gallery
1976: While studying abroad, won the Salon d'Automne Award in France.
1977 Return to Japan
(Since then, he has traveled to France several dozen times )
1978: Recommended as a member of the Nika Society (subsequently exhibited at the Nika Exhibition without examination, continued to hold solo exhibitions at Ginza Bara Gallery and Shinjuku Isetan Department Store)
1979 “Masahiko Hama Exhibition: Poems of Venice” exhibition held at Bara Gallery
1983: “Masahiko Hama New Works Exhibition” held at Bara Gallery
1986 Selected for the France Le Salon Exhibition (Association of French Artists) (formerly Salon de Paris) Featured in the Weekly Post magazine as one of `` 5 young painters who will lead the future of Japanese art''
1988 One Painting 1 Exhibited at the 7th Contemporary Western Painting Elite Selection Exhibition and won the Silver Prize for ``Ginza Canturatan (Quartier Latin)''
1990 Nika Exhibition Nika Society Friends Award
Appointed as Nika Nagano Prefecture branch chief
Solo exhibitions held at Suwa Marumitsu Department Store, Miyako Bijutsu, and other locations
Passed away in Suwa City in 2018 at the age of 80 .
In January 2019, a memorial exhibition was held at Miyako Art in Belvia, Chino Station.