ARTIST DETAILS

Munakata Shiko (1903-1975) is considered one of the leading Hanga (wood-block printing) artists of Japan. In discovering Van Gogh's Sunflower paintings, he aspired to become an oil painter, but later pursued the path of hanga making. Influenced by the Mingei movement led by the likes of Yanagi Muneyoshi and Kawai Kanjiro, he established his own distinct style by infusing characters and images. He produced many masterpieces depicting religious themes, such as “Two Bodhisattvas and Ten Great Disciples of Sakyamuni” and was awarded the prestigious Bunkakun-sho (Order of Culture Award) Bunkakun-sho (Order of Culture Award) at the age of 67.