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Munakata Shikō
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Quick Facts
Born:
Sept. 5, 1903, Aomori, Japan
Died:
Sept. 13, 1975, Tokyo (aged 72)
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Munakata Shikō

Japanese artist
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History

Munakata Shikō (born Sept. 5, 1903, Aomori, Japan—died Sept. 13, 1975, Tokyo) was a Japanese woodblock artist whose vivid works are known for their bold, random, and vigorous cutting.

Munakata, the son of a blacksmith, showed an avid interest in art from childhood, despite limited schooling. In 1924 he went to Tokyo, studied woodblock printing with Hiratsuka Un’ichi, and, after several years, developed his own style, preferring to call his works banga (“panel pictures”) instead of hanga (“woodblock prints”). Munakata’s style was influenced by fellow artists involved in the revival of Japanese folk crafts and by his growing fascination with Buddhism. In 1956 he became the first Japanese winner of the top prize at the Biennale at Venice. In 1970 he received Japan’s Order of Culture.

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