26155 Munakata Shiko Mountain Landscape (Munakata Shiko Appraisal Committee)

Height 40.0cm x 59.0cm (including frame)
Width 42.0cm x 61.0cm (including frame)

Munakata Shiko was a Japanese woodblock artist born in Aomori City, Aomori Prefecture in 1903 (Meiji 36). In his final years, he temporarily changed his name to Munakata Shiko. Raised in a poor family, he helped out with the family business from a young age while becoming drawn to painting. It is said that he was particularly moved by the beauty of arrowhead flowers he saw in rice paddies and decided to become a painter. Munakata Shiko himself coined the term "Yamato-e" to refer to his hand-painted paintings that combine traditional Japanese aesthetics with his own creativity.

Characteristics of Yamato-e
Munakata Shiko's Japanese paintings are notable for their freedom of expression and originality.

Creative Expressions:
His work is characterized by his own unique and powerful expression, unconstrained by preconceived notions of calligraphy and painting.

Material versatility:
He often paints with ink and mineral pigments on paper or silk, and has also created large-scale works such as folding screens and sliding door paintings.