Special Feature Page | https://store.tsite.jp/ginza/event/art/55635-1028150713.html
Ginza Tsutaya Bookstore (GINZA SIX 6F, Chuo-ku, Tokyo) will be holding the exhibition "Painter Le Corbusier: The World of Painting Spun by an Architectural Master" on its in-store art wall from July 25th (Sat) to August 27th (Thu), 2026.
Le Corbusier / All three works are from the print collection "The Poem of the Right Angle: Le Poème de l'angle droit" (1955).
overview
Le Corbusier, the master of 20th-century architecture who designed Villa Savoye and the Notre Dame du Haut chapel in Ronchamp, both registered as World Heritage Sites, is a figure who has established an unshakeable position as an architect. However, it is not widely known that he was also a "painter," spending every morning secluding himself in his studio and continuing to paint throughout his life. This exhibition is a valuable collection of prints and drawings that shines a spotlight on his source of inspiration and his little-known side as a painter. It traces the trajectory of Le Corbusier's creative process, including the evolution of two original drawings and the creation of his masterpiece, "The Poem of the Right Angle."
The highlight of this exhibition: Two original drawings from different periods, "Purist Still Life" and "Hands."
Purism was an art movement advocated by Le Corbusier and Amédée Ozenfant in France after World War I. While inheriting the forms of Cubism, it aimed for a clearer and more orderly composition, depicting everyday motifs with simple forms and quiet colors.
"Purist Still Life" (1927) is an early still-life painting composed of straight lines. Its functional design, devoid of unnecessary elements, is the very foundation of the ideas that would later form the basis of the Villa Savoye, a pinnacle of modern architecture. "The Hand" (1951) is a work that symbolizes his mature period in his later years. The vibrant, free curves directly connect to the forms of works he created around the same time, such as the Chapel of Notre Dame du Haut and the Monument of the Open Hand. By comparing the styles of these two works, you can experience how the evolution of "painting" is directly intertwined with the history of "masterpiece architecture."
"Purist Still Life," 1927
"Hand" 1951
The print collection "Poems of Right Angle" was published in 1955.
The centerpiece of this exhibition is the print collection "Poems of Right Angle," published in 1955, the same year that the Chapel of Notre Dame du Haut was completed. This work consists of 19 lithographs that express a unique worldview based on an arrangement (iconostasis) devised by the artist himself, depicting the movement of the sun, love, and "open hands." The "harmony between humanity and nature" that the master finally arrived at is alive and well here.
Regarding the sale of artwork
The exhibited artworks will be available for purchase at the store starting July 25th (Saturday) at 10:30 AM.
Depending on the pre-sale situation, tickets may sell out before the event begins.
For information on selling on the art e-commerce platform "OIL," please see below.
https://oil.bijutsutecho.com/
Artist Profile
Le Corbusier (1887-1965)
Le Corbusier was a leading Swiss architect, designer, and painter of the 20th century. His real name was Charles-Édouard Jeanneret, and "Le Corbusier" was his pen name. While establishing himself as a prominent architect, he also continued to paint every day throughout his life. In 2016, 17 architectural works in seven countries around the world, including the National Museum of Western Art (Tokyo), were registered as a World Cultural Heritage site under the name "The Architectural Works of Le Corbusier." In the 1920s, he advocated the Purism movement and became a standard-bearer of modern architecture, creating works such as the minimalist Villa Savoye. After the war, he devised his own measuring system, "Modulor," and left behind masterpieces such as the Unité d'Habitation housing complex and the Notre Dame du Haut chapel in Ronchamp.
Exhibition details
"The Painter Le Corbusier: The World of Painting Woven by a Master of Architecture"
Dates: July 25 (Sat) – August 27 (Thu), 2026
Hours: 10:30 AM – 9:00 PM (Closing at 6:00 PM on the last day) Venue: Ginza Tsutaya Bookstore Art Wall Organizer: Ginza Tsutaya Bookstore Supporter: Yoshimura Fine Art Co., Ltd. Admission: Free Inquiries: info.ginza@ccc.co.jp
Special Feature Page | https://store.tsite.jp/ginza/event/art/55635-1028150713.html
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CCC Art Lab
CCC Art Lab is a planning group within Culture Convenience Club Co., Ltd., a planning company, that proposes "a life with art." Through our proposals for "a life with art," we aim to make art more accessible, make people's lives happier, and contribute to creating a better society. Based on the knowledge we have cultivated through many years of business experience in store planning, art media, product development, and event production, we propose projects with an approach that only we can offer.
https://www.ccc-artlab.jp/
[From a press release by Culture Convenience Club Co., Ltd. (CCC Art Lab)]
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