1989 Oil Painting on Canvas. Tokyo, Meguro origin.
Not sure who the artist is. The translation on the back that is written in Japanese explains this. I had a friend translate part of the description which says '25th main exhibition'. No idea what this means. My understand standing is that it originates from Meguro, Tokyo. I know that it it's difficult to find any information on this date in English.
1.7M X 1.2M
Secondhand Store
Yes
Hello, this item is a large oil painting on canvas dated 1989, measuring 1.7 x 1.2 meters, originating from Meguro, Tokyo. The composition depicts a canal scene with moored fishing boats and waterside architecture, rendered with a high degree of realism and atmospheric perspective. Inscriptions on the reverse in Japanese indicate a connection to an exhibition, with a partial translation referencing a “25th main exhibition.” This likely refers to a juried art society or municipal exhibition in Tokyo, where contemporary painters frequently presented works in the late 20th century. The signature visible on the front further suggests authorship by an exhibiting Japanese artist active in the 1980s.
As an unsigned or little-documented work in the Western art market, its value primarily lies in its aesthetic impact, large format, and regional interest. Japanese contemporary realist works from this era, when not tied to a well-known artist, tend to sell in the $500–$1,200 range at auction or through secondhand dealers. Should further research identify the exhibiting society and confirm the artist’s career, the value could increase significantly, with documented Japanese realist painters from the 1980s commanding between $2,000 and $5,000 depending on exhibition history and recognition. At present, a fair market estimate for this piece would be in the range of $800–$1,200.
Hi Matt, thank you for the additional information. These additional facts help determining a more complete provenance.
If the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum or the Shutai group can confirm the artist’s exhibition record, membership status, or biographical details, that documentation would strengthen the provenance and could justify a revised valuation, potentially above the present range.
Please keep us posted.
Best,
Hi there. While your appraisal seems to accurate on value it did seem to lack information. I have used AI to find the information and have now sent an email to the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum for further information.
FYI The following information was retrieved by the AI from the images of the painting:
Artist: 青木昌世 (Aoki Masayo), who signs the front as "M. Aoki '89"
Year: 1989
Location: The artist lived in Meguro Ward, Tokyo (東京都目黒区), written on both the stretcher bar and the exhibition label.
Exhibition: This was entered in the 25th 主体展 (Shutai Exhibition) in 1989. The Shutai Exhibition (主体美術家集団) is a respected Japanese independent oil painting group founded in 1965, which holds annual exhibitions at the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum in Ueno. Being shown there means Aoki was an accepted member of that group.
Subject: A realistic Japanese fishing harbor scene — oil on linen canvas, large format.
Value
I wasn't able to pull auction records for Aoki Masayo specifically, but based on the context:
The Shutai Exhibition is a solid mid-tier independent show — respected, but not the top-prestige Nitten or Inten groups.
Japanese Western-style oil paintings (洋画) by non-famous artists from this era typically sell at Japanese auctions for ¥30,000–¥150,000 (~$200–$1,000 USD), with exhibition provenance pushing toward the higher end.
The large canvas size and the exhibition label (which adds documented provenance) are both positive value factors.