MUNAKATA Shikô

(Japan 1903–1975)

Title

Visit

Other titles:

Night visit

Place of origin

Japan

Period

Shôwa period 1926 - 1988 → Japan

Year

1938

Media category

Materials used

woodcut

Dimensions

25.4 x 28.0cm image

Signature & date

Signed l.l., pencil "Shikô [in Japanese] Munakata [in English]" [and artist's mark]. Artist's seal l.c., ink [stamped]. Not dated.

Credit

Purchased 1968

Accession number

DO28.1968

Location

Not on display

Further information

When he made this series of 31 Prints, Munakata was inspired by the centuries-old No play of the same title. The image depicts the wife of a hunter, who unbeknown to her, has been condemned to become a devil to atone for taking the life of fellow creatures. The wife is shown opening her door to a monk, the bearer of the message and relics from her husband, who can no longer return to her. Munakata has eloquently captured this fleeting moment in the wife's inquiring expression. Most of the woodblocks of this 1938 series were lost. This is one of the few to survive.

The Asian Collections, AGNSW, 2003, pg.283.

Bibliography (2)

AJIOKA, Hanga: Japanese creative prints 2000, '1930s-1950s: Consolidation of Hanga and the individualists', pg. 70-98, Sydney, 2000, 82 (colour illus.), 102, 109. cat.no. 4.7 In this publication this work is titled 'Night visit'.

Jackie Menzies (Editor), The Asian Collections Art Gallery of New South Wales 2003, 'Individuality in early 20th century works on paper', Domain, 2003, 283 (colour illus.).

Exhibition history (1)

Hanga: Japanese creative prints, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 28 Oct 2000–07 Jan 2001