Tarō Okamoto was originally educated as a yōga (western-style painting) artist. As a young man, he studied oil painting, taking after his father, who was also an artist. After continuing his studies in Paris, he became influenced by the contemporary avant-garde scene and became involved in surrealist art groups and exhibitions. After World War II, he established himself as one of the leading avant-garde artists in Japan in what was seen as a reset of Japanese culture. His output was informed by his theory of polarism, emphasizing that opposite principles…
