Study for a Woman Seated in a Blue Chair by Takashi Kaburagi, Japan 1996

This rare and highly expressive oil painting on canvas by Japanese art historian, researcher, and artist Takashi Kaburagi was created in 1996 and is officially titled on the reverse as a shūsaku (習作), meaning a study.

The work presents a seated female figure rendered with bold, sculptural presence through dynamic impasto brushwork. Kaburagi’s confident handling of paint creates a powerful sense of depth and movement, while the composition is anchored by a refined palette of deep blues, forest greens, stark whites, and subtle red accents.

What distinguishes Kaburagi’s work is its unique intellectual foundation. As a respected art historian, researcher, and contributor to the Japan Art Oral History Archive, his paintings emerge as a direct extension of his academic and theoretical expertise. This dual identity results in a body of work that is both visually compelling and conceptually sophisticated.

Positioned between figurative and abstract expression, the painting reflects the spirit of Japanese modernism of the 1990s, combining emotional intensity with compositional discipline. It is a work that resonates equally in contemporary, minimal, or curated interiors.

Provenance & Documentation:
The reverse of the canvas is fully inscribed by the artist, ensuring authenticity:

Signed in both Japanese Kanji (鏑木 崇) and Latin script (TAKASHI KABURAGI)

Titled: 青いイスに座った女のための習作

Date: September 4, 1996

Size: F8 (approx. 45.5 × 38 cm)

Inventory number: 94N3-041