The Wall

1960

American, born Japan 1906 - 1999

Horiuchi considered this painting one of his favorites. The artist created it after seeing a play by John Hersey called The Wall, about the Warsaw ghetto during World War II. With his use of the brilliant red, Horiuchi introduced strong color into his work, evoking fire, passion, and bloodshed. The torn pieces of paper, in varying shades of brown and black, are built up from the base in the form of a wall, perhaps referencing the piles of rubble left by German troops. The bright patch of yellow in the center offers a glimmer of hope, and provides a pleasing contrast to the surrounding colors.

Casein and mulberry paper mounted on board

Overall: 20 7/8 × 47 7/16 in. (53 × 120.5cm)

Overall h. (Overall h.): 21 1/2in. (54.6cm)

Overall w. (Overall w.): 48 1/8in. (122.2cm)

Frame: 48 1/2 × 22in. (123.2 × 55.9cm)

Norman and Amelia Davis Collection

61.41

Photo: Paul Macapia

Not currently on view

Resources

Exhibition HistorySeattle, Washington, Seattle Art Museum, "Paul Horiuchi", March 9, 2000 - June 11, 2000

Yamanashi-ken, Japan, Yamanashi Prefectural Museum of Art, "Paul Horiuchi: Japanese Sensitivity Preserved in the Pacific Northwest", September 27, 2003 - November 24, 2003 (9/27/2003 - 11/24/2004)

La Conner, Washington, Museum of Northwest Art, "Paul Horiuchi: East and West", March 15, 2008 - June 15, 2008 (3/15/2008 - 6/15/2008)

Seattle, Washington, Office of Minority Affairs, University of Washington, and the Ford Foundation, in cooperation with the Society of Ethnic and Special Studies, "In Praise of Man and Nature", the Second Annual Conference on Special Emerging Programs in Higher Education, (in the Olympic Hotel, Seattle), November 6-9, 1974. (11/06/1974 - 11/09/1974)

Olympia, Washington, Washington State Arts Commission, the Governor's Office, 1969-1971. (1969 - 1971)

Eugene, Oregon, Museum of Art, University of Oregon, and the Seattle Art Museum, Washington, "Paul Horiuchi: 50 Years of Painting", 1969. (1969 - 1969)

Published ReferencesNakane, Kazuko. "The Light from Within: Following the Art of Paul Horiuchi." LaConner, WA: Museum of Northwest Art co-sponsored by the International Examiner, 2000, illus. p. 5

Johns, Barbara, "Paul Horiuchi East and West", Universtiy of Washington Press, 2008, pp.51

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