Photographers

Masahisa Fukase (1934–2012) was one of Japan’s most radical and influential postwar photographers, best known for his deeply personal, psychologically charged, and visually experimental work. Born in Hokkaido into a family of studio photographers, he developed a lifelong fascination with image‑making. After graduating from the Photography Department at Nihon University in 1956, he worked in commercial settings before becoming a freelance photographer in 1968. His early assignments revealed a talent for blending intimacy, performance, and an often dark sense of humor with sharp social observation.

Fukase worked primarily through long‑term series, many of which unfolded alongside major events in his personal life. His wives, parents, and even his beloved cat Sasuke appeared repeatedly across his work, forming a kind of photographic autobiography. His innovative approach produced a wide range of imagery: surreal color abstractions, staged self‑portraits, family tableaux, and raw depictions of slaughterhouses and urban nightlife. His performative self‑portraits from the late 1980s and early 1990s anticipate today’s selfie culture with their expressive, humorous, and sometimes unsettling explorations of the self.

His most celebrated work, *Karasu* (*Ravens*, 1975–1985), is considered one of the greatest photobooks ever made. Produced in the emotional aftermath of his divorce, the series transforms the raven into a metaphor for loss, longing, and psychological turbulence. The stark black‑and‑white images, often shot in Hokkaido and Tokyo, combine documentary observation with lyrical abstraction. The book’s mood of solitude and existential angst has made it a landmark in photographic history, influencing generations of artists worldwide.

Throughout his career, Fukase exhibited widely at institutions including MoMA, the Victoria & Albert Museum, the Oxford Museum of Modern Art, the Fondation Cartier, and numerous Japanese museums. His extensive archive—much of which was unseen for decades—was only made public after his death, revealing vast bodies of work that further highlight his creativity and range. His life took a tragic turn in 1992 when he suffered a severe brain injury from a fall, leaving him incapacitated until his death in 2012. Despite this, his legacy has continued to grow, positioning him as one of the most innovative, emotionally resonant, and influential photographers of the 20th century.