GALLERY
COMMENTARY

Hair

  • Aman-Jean, Edmond-François
  • c.1912
  • oil on canvas
  • 72.9 x 91.5cm

Commentary

Edmond-François Aman-Jean (1869-1936) is a french symbolist painter. He exhibited many of his paintings in salon type exhibitions and had become well recognized.
"Hair" was displayed at an exhibition held prior to the salon. It is a preliminary sketch for the one participated in the salon: a concept painting. A preliminary sketch it might be, but it is drawn very elaborately and has high quality as a complete painting..

Anecdote

While he had been in studying in Paris for five years since 1908, Kojima was given this painting by Aman-Jean himself in his studio in Paris.
Aman-Jean was a very highly regarded painter in France then. Thinking his paintings could be excellent materials for Japanese art students to study, Kojima asked Magosaburo Ohara for permission to purchase this painting. It tuned out that the collection of Ohara Museum of Art started with this painting.
Kojima was introduced to Aman-Jean through Mr. Delvin, President of Gent Art School. After the first meeting, they became friends and their friendship had grown. Kojima asked Aman-Jean to comment on his paintings, introduce him to painters and galleries including Monet and Matisse, and even asked him to buy paintings on behalf of him. Aman-Jean provided tremendous support for his subsequent effort of collecting paintings as well as advice for the production of his paintings.
This painting, "Hair" is a very significant painting that represents the friendship between Kojima and Aman-Jean and served as a stepping stone for the development of Ohara Museum of Art.

Painting

Apple Picking

Small Table in Evening Dusk

Song of Songs (Le Cantique des Cantiques)

Haystacks

Waterlilies

Cliff of Gréville

Coutyard at the ‘Rondest House’, Pontoise

Woman Wearing a Hat with Silk Gauze

Delightful Land (Te Nave Nave Fenua)

All Things Die, But All Will Be Resurrected through God’s Love

Wave

Carriage and Pair

Three Dancers in Red Costume

Autumn Sea

Old Horse in the Wasteland

Landscape

Festival of Venis

Hair

Winter Orchard

Beethoven

Landscape of La Ferté-Milon

Annunciation