Paper

Student Artwork Guide

2

Taro Yamamoto, 1970

Name Class Date
Taro Yamamoto, 2 (1970). Reproduced for reference; rights reserved by the rights holder. See this canvas under a moving light: the drawing, the true colour under the varnish, the bare pigment

The facts

Artist
Taro Yamamoto allpaintingsstore.com/en/artists/taro-yamamoto/
Artist’s dates
1919 – 1994
Painted
1970
Original size
147 x 86 cm
Movement
Abstract Expressionism Large canvases where the act of painting itself — the drip, the sweep — is the subject.

Copyright This work is still under copyright. Taro Yamamoto died in 1994; copyright lasts 70 years after the artist’s death, so it remains in force until 2064. The image is shown here for classroom reference; rights remain with the rights holder.

Source: AllPaintingsStore.com — accessed Oct. 1, 2026

2 — Taro Yamamoto Part 1 · The artwork

In context

2 — Taro Yamamoto

How big is it?

The original measures 147 × 86 cm (height × width), drawn here beside an adult of average height.

When was this painted?

  1. 1910
  2. 1920
  3. 1930
  4. 1940
  5. 1950
  6. 1960
  7. 1970
  8. 1980
  9. 1990

Row above: the years. Row below: how old the artist was at the start and at the end of each span — 0 at birth, 75 at death.

Painted when the artist was 51. The artist lived to 75. 1 of the 5 dated works by this artist in our catalogue came earlier.

Shaded: the lifetime of Taro Yamamoto (1919–1994) ▲ this work, 1970 every dated painting, decade by decade

Compare with

Pick one work above: name two things it shares with this one, and one thing that's different.

More works to set beside this one: allpaintingsstore.com/en/art/similar/taro-yamamoto-2-AS7US3-en/

Colours

Measured from the image

    Main colour

    Walnut #744c2e

    Catalogued palette

    • #744C2E
    • #9D8250
    • #CE8C2C
    • #D3C091

    These colours inside the artist’s whole palette Find other paintings by colour

    Palette
    Dark The dominant colour family in the image.
    Main colour name
    Walnut
    Intensity
    Vivid How saturated and varied the colours are, from a single toned-down hue to many bright ones.
    Contrast
    Gentle How much the colours differ in lightness and saturation across the picture.
    Harmony
    Strong Color Unity How well the colours work together, from clashing to fully unified.
    Brightness
    Bright How light or dark the picture reads overall, from deep shadow to bright highlight.
    Saturation
    Clear Color Presence How pure and strong the colours are, from near-grey to fully vivid.

    Where in the world is this painting looked at?

    • under 1%
    • 1–3%
    • 3–8%
    • 8–20%
    • 20% and over
    This painting alone has too few recorded visitors to map, so the plate reads every work by Taro Yamamoto over the last twelve months — 1 countries in all. Where these figures come from

    The ten leading countries

    1. 1 China 100.0%

    Find the three darkest countries on the map. Is the museum that keeps this painting in any of them? Write down one reason people far away might look at it.

    The 4 most looked-at works by Taro Yamamoto

    1. 1 Memorial Byobu for Kumamoto, 2017 33.3%
    2. 2 4, 1970 33.3%
    3. 3 3, 1970 33.3%
    4. — 2, 1970 this painting 0.0%

    Together these works take 99.9% of all the attention this artist's paintings received over the last twelve months. The catalogue holds 9 works by this artist, of which 3 were looked at at least once. This painting has not been looked at yet in that time — it closes the list without a rank. The same counts, month by month

    Bars measure attention, not quality. Pick the work at the top and this one: name one thing that might make a painting famous beyond how well it is painted.

    Source: AllPaintingsStore.com — accessed Oct. 1, 2026

    2 — Taro Yamamoto Part 2 · In context

    Artist and museum

    Artist

    Taro Yamamoto

    Born in Los Angeles, United States of America

    Taro Yamamoto: A Life in Abstract Expressionism

    Early Life and Education

    Taro Yamamoto (born October 29, 1919, in Hollywood, California – died 1994) was a significant figure within the New York School of Abstract Expressionist artists. His early life was marked by a unique cultural experience; he lived in Japan from the age of six to nineteen, an upbringing that would profoundly influence his artistic vision.

    Born in California but deeply connected to Japanese culture.

    Served in the U.S. Army during World War II (November 7, 1941 – February 23, 1946).

    Artistic Development and Influences

    Following his military service, Yamamoto dedicated himself to formal artistic training. He studied at several prestigious institutions:

    Santa Monica City College (1949).

    The Art Students League of New York (1950-1952), under the guidance of Yasuo Kuniyoshi, Morris Kantor, Byron Browne, and Vaclav Vytlacil.

    Hans Hofmann School of Fine Arts in New York City (1951-1953).

    The teachings of Hans Hofmann were particularly influential, shaping Yamamoto’s understanding of color and form. His exposure to the vibrant art scene of post-war New York further solidified his commitment to abstract expressionism.

    Key Achievements and Recognition

    Won the John Sloan Memorial Fellowship at The Art Students League of New York in 1952.

    Received the Edward G. McDowell Traveling Fellowship in 1953, allowing him to study art in Europe.

    Yamamoto’s work gained recognition within the burgeoning Abstract Expressionist movement, exhibiting alongside prominent artists like Jackson Pollock and Willem de Kooning.

    Artistic Style and Themes

    Yamamoto's paintings are characterized by a dynamic interplay of abstract forms, bold colors, and layered textures. While rooted in the principles of Abstract Expressionism, his work often reveals subtle references to Japanese aesthetics and cultural motifs.

    His pieces frequently explore themes of memory, identity, and the intersection of Eastern and Western artistic traditions.

    Historical Significance

    Taro Yamamoto played a vital role in bridging the gap between American Abstract Expressionism and Japanese artistic sensibilities. As part of the New York School, he contributed to the movement’s international acclaim during the post-World War II era. His work demonstrates the power of art to transcend cultural boundaries and express universal human experiences.

    Though not as widely celebrated as some of his contemporaries, Yamamoto's contributions remain significant in understanding the diversity and complexity of Abstract Expressionism.

    Where to read more

    Find this online

    QR code linking to the download page for 2

    allpaintingsstore.com/en/art/download/taro-yamamoto-2-AS7US3-en/

    Cite this artwork

    MLA
    Yamamoto, Taro. 2. 1970, https://allpaintingsstore.com/en/art/taro-yamamoto-2-AS7US3-en/
    APA
    Yamamoto, Taro (1970). 2 [Painting]. https://allpaintingsstore.com/en/art/taro-yamamoto-2-AS7US3-en/
    Chicago
    Taro Yamamoto. 2. 1970. https://allpaintingsstore.com/en/art/taro-yamamoto-2-AS7US3-en/
    Harvard
    Yamamoto, Taro (1970) 2. Available at: https://allpaintingsstore.com/en/art/taro-yamamoto-2-AS7US3-en/

    Source: AllPaintingsStore.com — accessed Oct. 1, 2026

    2 — Taro Yamamoto Part 3 · Artist and museum

    Look closely

    2 — Taro Yamamoto

    Look closely

    Answer in your own words. There are no wrong answers here — only answers you can explain.

    1. What catches your eye first, and why?
    2. Which colours or shapes create the mood — and what is that mood?
    3. Our catalogue files this work under: abstract, cosmic, circles. Do you agree? What would you add, or take away?
    4. Look back at Memorial Byobu for Kumamoto (2017), earlier in this guide. Name two things it shares with this work, and one that is different.
    5. Abstract Expressionism: Large canvases where the act of painting itself — the drip, the sweep — is the subject. Where can you see that in this work?

    Your response

    Write a short paragraph about this artwork. Use the facts from the earlier parts of this guide, and your answers above.

    Source: AllPaintingsStore.com — accessed Oct. 1, 2026

    2 — Taro Yamamoto Part 4 · Look closely

    Questions & Answers

    Where does "2" stand among Taro Yamamoto's recurring subjects?

    Taro Yamamoto's recurring themes include exploration of form & color, recurring circular motifs, dynamic compositions, abstract expressionism, japanese aesthetics, post-war innovation, cosmic wonder, spiritual energy; "2" focuses on abstract, cosmic, circles, energy, color field, chaos, spirituality, dynamic.

    Can I see "2" by Taro Yamamoto under different lights?

    "2" can be examined layer by layer on the artwork's X-Ray page, a viewer inspired by a conservator's light bench with eleven optical readings of the image.

    What color palette is used in "2" by Taro Yamamoto?

    The palette of "2" by Taro Yamamoto is described as dark. It is a compact description of the work's colors.