$3,000–$200,000+. Common prints, later editions: $3,000–$8,000. Key value factors: Munakata won the Venice Biennale grand prize in 1956. His Buddhist goddess prints and large-scale works command the highest prices.
"Bird" is a [sosaku-hanga](/glossary/sosaku-hanga) nature study by Shiko Munakata, created during the Showa period. This work belongs to the [kacho-e](/glossary/kacho-e) (bird-and-flower) tradition, one of the most celebrated genres in Japanese art.
Shiko Munakata brings characteristic sensitivity to this naturalistic subject, combining precise observation with poetic atmosphere. The composition balances the living subjects with their environment, creating a scene that feels both scientifically accurate and emotionally resonant.
The technical execution reveals the sophisticated printmaking tradition behind this image — from the precise registration of multiple color blocks to the subtle gradations that give depth and luminosity to the natural subjects.
This print represents Shiko Munakata's contribution to the sosaku-hanga tradition during the Showa period. As with all works by this artist, it reflects both individual artistic vision and the broader cultural moment in which it was created. For collectors and admirers of Japanese printmaking, it offers a window into the sophisticated aesthetic world that produced some of the most beloved images in art history.
1960
Woodblock print
Shôwa period, 1926-1989
Woodblock print
1939-68
Woodblock print
1939 (printed 1955)
Woodblock print
Curated cross-cuts that include this print.
Bird was created by Shiko Munakata (棟方志功) in 1962.
Bird depicts birds & flowers.
