Artist:
Shiko Munakata 1903-1975
Title:
Munakata Calendar for 1977 - Rare Complete calendar set - 12 prints plus front cover.
Description:
The complete calendar for 1977.
It includes 12 prints (lightly hinged on the top tip on the calendar) + 1 full color; a cover page and the explanations in Japanese.
The title of the calendar is "Ryuryoku Kako" (Green Willows and Red Blossoms). It means the beautiful scenery of the nature in the spring. In Zen Buddhism, the beauty of the nature is the essence of the enlightenment.
The prints were selected from the series of 12 black and white works made in 1955.
Munakata's calendar print series, commissioned by Yasukawa Electronic, was started in 1958 and has been still continued today. The whole series has been very popular in Japan as well as in abroad.
Technique:
Lithograph
Period
Showa 1926-1989
Width Item
12.2 inches = 31.0 cm
Height Item
15.4 inches = 39.0 cm
Biography from Artelino:
Munakata's prints predominantly employ black and white, and he utilized various techniques, including woodblocks, woodcuts, and lithographs. In a manner reminiscent of Pablo Picasso, Shiko Munakata worked spontaneously, with speed, and demonstrated exceptional prolificacy.
Medals, Honors and Awards:
Shiko Munakata passed away on September 13, 1975.
In the later years of his life, Shiko Munakata received various medals and public honors, although listing them all would be too exhaustive. He passed away in Tokyo in 1975 at the age of 72.
Tips for Collectors:
Collecting prints by Shiko Munakata can be somewhat challenging for several reasons. Firstly, there has been considerable hype surrounding this artist, making it trendy to own a Shiko Munakata artwork.
Trendy artists often bring challenges to the market, including cheap mass production and the proliferation of fakes, and Shiko Munakata is not an exception to this trend.
Similar to Picasso, Salvador Dali, or Joan Miro, successful artists sometimes succumb to the temptation of commercially exploiting their fame by creating cheap mass-produced items like prints in editions of thousands. These items are often unsigned and unnumbered, targeting a broader audience that might not afford an original piece. Frequently, these "art products" are produced by skilled artisans or art students in a studio, not directly by the artist.
Many of the inexpensive Munakata prints found online fall into this category, often published by Munakata Studio. These are frequently released as calendars with prices usually around $100 or less per sheet. Therefore, when you come across the terms calendar or studio in connection with a Shiko Munakata print, be aware that it is likely a cheap, mass-produced item.
The second challenge lies in the existence of fakes, although not of the inexpensive variety. These fakes often claim to be high-value items, complete with signatures and numbering. Artists like Shiko Munakata, whose technical skill may be perceived as simple, are unfortunately easy targets for forgery.
https://www.artelino.com/show/japanese_single_print.asp?mbk=72684