MUNAKATA SHIKO Vajra Plate

• LOT

  1854

• Artist

  MUNAKATA SHIKO ( 1903 - 1975 )

• Estimate

  300,000 - 800,000 13,043 - 34,783 15,000 - 40,000 60,000 - 160,000 1,875 - 5,000

  JPY RMB HKD TWD USD

• Result

  Members only

• Details

  ink on paper　hanging scroll　1959
  signed, dated and "At the painting quarters by the Hadotan River."
  "Self-inscribed by Munakata Shiko (Horo)." and stamped signature on the inside of the lid
  The inscription "Kongoban" refers to a ritual platform in Esoteric Buddhism, symbolizing the indestructible wisdom of the vajra.
  
  MUNAKATA SHIKO was a Japanese printmaker who brought modern Japanese woodblock art to international prominence. Deeply influenced by the ideals of the Mingei (Folk Craft) movement advocated by Yanagi Soetsu and others, he developed a highly individual approach to woodblock printmaking. Raised in Aomori, he aspired to become an artist after encountering the works of Vincent van Gogh. He eventually came to regard the woodblock not merely as a reproductive technique but as a creative act through which he could directly express his spirituality, and used the term "itaga" (board pictures) to articulate his artistic philosophy. His boldly composed works, characterised by powerful carved lines, vigorous knife marks, and subtle variations in the density of ink, draw upon Buddhist cosmology, reverence for nature, and a celebration of human vitality, opening up new expressive possibilities within the tradition of Japanese woodblock printmaking. Major series, including The Ten Great Disciples of Shakyamuni, Two Bodhisattvas and the Ten Great Disciples of Shakyamuni, and The Great World Screens, exemplify his spiritual intensity and distinctive sense of form. His international reputation was firmly established following his receipt of the International Grand Prize for Printmaking at the 1956 Venice Biennale. His works are held in the collections of major museums in Japan and abroad, including the National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo, the National Museum of Art, Osaka, and the Aomori Museum of Art. Munakata occupies a pivotal position in the history of modern Japanese art, having opened up new horizons for woodblock printmaking.
  
  136.0×69.0cm
  (53 ½ × 27 ⅛ in.)　

• Organizer

  Jo's Auction

• Auction

  Jo’s Auction Autumn Auction of Art Works 2026

• Catalog

  Contemporary Art/Modern&Post-War Art

• Date

  2026/10/21