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painting of an old man holding a sheep in his armsa painting of a brown dog with a hat onan old picture of a piece of paper with writing on it
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39 - Akira Tanaka (1918–1982) The Shepherd 1978 Oil on canvas, si…
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Estimate €2,000 - €3,000
Sale commission
Description
Akira Tanaka (1918–1982) The Shepherd 1978 Oil on canvas, signed lower right, titled and dated in Japanese on the reverse 91 x 72 cm A Franco-Japanese artist, Akira Tanaka moved to Paris in 1959, at the age of 40. He quickly became a leading figure in the École de Paris and developed an interest in art brut, which he adapted through a highly personal style. Rather than depicting the capital’s monuments or tourist attractions, Tanaka chose to paint the everyday lives of Parisians and, more broadly, working-class France, which became his main source of inspiration. His painting, which is both naturalistic and socially conscious, focuses particularly on ordinary people – those who, in his view, ‘do not wear a mask’. He thus depicts Parisians, as well as Spanish, Portuguese and Italian immigrants, workers and passers-by… Through these scenes of everyday life, the artist seeks to capture the authenticity of his subjects and to reveal a social reality that is often far removed from traditional depictions of Paris. Tanaka attaches particular importance to the face, which he regards as a direct reflection of the human being. As he explained in 1973: ‘First of all, one must have sympathy and curiosity for human beings as such, and it is only from there that form emerges.’ He adds that ‘the face is an essential element’ in his work. To capture this authenticity, the artist spends long hours wandering the streets of Paris and country lanes, closely observing the expressions, gazes and gestures of workers. His work is thus based on direct observation of reality and a genuine curiosity about human beings.
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About the sale Modern & Contemporary Art • Abstraction • Narrative Figurative Art • Free Figurative Art • Street Art • Design
Auction location
Auction time 10/24/2026 at 10:30 AM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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