Kannon

Catalog note / 解説

One of twelve prints from a series based upon a poem by Okamoto Kanoko (1889-1939), this is dedicated to Kanzeon, or Kannon, the Bodhisattva of Mercy. The entire set won a prize in Lugano, Switzerland, in 1952. The present impression is dated 1955, the time of its sale to James Hudson, its first owner. Munakata printed on thin, undersized kozö (mulberry) paper, usually etchü (paper from the Etchü region in Toyama prefecture) or izumo (paper from the Izumo region in Shimane prefecture). The use of crumpled paper is a hallmark of Munakata’s style. To obtain a misty effect, he sometimes moistened the paper before printing. (from Pathway exhibition 1/29/08-)