Rikio Takahashi (1917 - 1998), Japanese

“This is another painting by Joe Hendry exploring the theme of the kilted Scottish figure. The man is shown from behind, hands clasped behind his back, standing quite calmly on the canvas.

What I like about this one is its simplicity. There’s nothing complicated about it — just a figure, a kilt, and a quiet bit of attitude. Hendry manages to make something very Scottish feel fresh and contemporary at the same time.”

Rikio Takahashi (1917–1998) was a Japanese printmaker associated with the sōsaku-hanga (“creative print”) movement, a twentieth-century approach to Japanese printmaking in which artists designed, carved and printed their own work rather than relying on the traditional collaborative system of designer, carver and printer.

Takahashi was born in Hokkaido, Japan, and later studied art in Tokyo. During the post-war period he became active in the Japanese creative print movement, which emphasised individual artistic expression and experimentation with modern forms and colour. His work often explores abstracted landscapes and natural forms, using layered colour and strong graphic structure to create atmospheric compositions.

Working primarily in woodblock print, Takahashi developed a distinctive style characterised by textured surfaces, subtle tonal transitions and a restrained palette. His prints frequently evoke elements of the Japanese landscape, including mountains, coastlines and seasonal changes, translated into simplified geometric forms.

Takahashi’s prints were exhibited widely in Japan and internationally, particularly during the post-war decades when Japanese creative printmakers gained significant global recognition. Today his work appears in museum collections and print portfolios devoted to modern Japanese printmaking.

Rikio Takahashi’s prints remain appreciated for their quiet abstraction, refined colour relationships and connection to the broader development of modern Japanese print art in the twentieth century.

In recognition of his contribution to the arts he has received numerous honours, including appointment as Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2006.

Today Demarco is widely regarded as a central figure in the cultural life of Edinburgh and the wider European art world, particularly for his role in connecting Scottish art with international avant-garde movements.