Two Figures
1959
Image not available — this artwork is under copyright
View on museum website →Medium
woodcut in black and gray
Classification
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Rosenwald Collection
Accession Number
1980.45.1097
Art Historical Context
**Two Figures** (1959) by Shikō Munakata is a striking woodcut print in black and gray housed in the National Gallery of's Rosenwald Collection.akata, a renowned artist (1903–1975), revitalized traditional woodblock printing in the-20th century through dynamic, folk-inspired style. This work exemplifies his mastery of the medium, where bold, handved lines and textured grays evoke a sense of raw energy spiritual depth, hallmarks of his sōsaku hanga (creative print) approach. Created in the post-World War II era, when Japan was reasserting its cultural identity on the global stage, *Two Figures...