Otono Sutezo

Japanese photographer Sutezo Otono (1905–1988) is best known for his photograms. In 1930, he joined the newly founded Tampei Photography Club in Osaka and explored the possibilities of avant-garde photography with leading figures such as Nakaji Yasui and Bizan Ueda. Otono was particularly interested in the photogram technique, in which objects are placed directly on photographic paper. By arranging objects with varying degrees of transparency and varying the distance from the photographic paper, he was able to create photograms that depicted complex landscapes with tonal gradations and depth. Working with a wide variety of objects and materials, from industrial products to plants, Otono elevated the photogram beyond mere silhouettes to a medium capable of evoking emotionally rich scenes.

*This text was contributed by Mitsuhiro Wakayama.
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