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Hanga

A free platform for exploring Japanese woodblock prints from the shin-hanga, sosaku-hanga, and ukiyo-e traditions.

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Shiko Munakata
Disconsolate Lovers

Disconsolate Lovers by Shiko Munakata — Japanese Woodblock print, ca. 1800

Disconsolate Lovers

by Shiko Munakata

Date:: ca. 1800
Medium:: Woodblock print
Edition:: Self-printed
Source:: met

Typical Price

Rare early signed work in excellent condition: $5,000–$25,000

Fine signed mid-century print: $2,000–$8,000

Good condition signed example: $500–$2,500

Description

"Disconsolate Lovers" — catalogued with an erroneous "ca. 1800" date that clearly belongs to another work — depicts two figures in the posture of romantic grief or separation. The subject connects to Munakata's interest in Japanese theater and narrative, particularly the love-suicide (shinju) tradition of bunraku and kabuki that Chikamatsu Monzaemon had made into high art. Two figures in the extremity of feeling — their bodies arranged in the archetypal geometry of desperate love — gave Munakata's carving style exactly the kind of emotional intensity it could render most powerfully.

More Prints by Shiko Munakata

Flying Over the Mountains (Yamagoe), from the series "The Tale of the Auklet (Uto Hanga-kan)" by Shiko Munakata

Flying Over the Mountains (Yamagoe), from the series "The Tale of the Auklet (Uto Hanga-kan)"

1960

Woodblock print

Bodhisattva Manjusri (Monju bosatsu no saku), from the series Ten Great Disciples of the Buddha Sakyamuni (Shaka jûdai deshi), Shôwa period, undated (block carved 1948) by Shiko Munakata

Bodhisattva Manjusri (Monju bosatsu no saku), from the series Ten Great Disciples of the Buddha Sakyamuni (Shaka jûdai deshi), Shôwa period, undated (block carved 1948)

Shôwa period, 1926-1989

Woodblock print

Ragora (Rahula), from the series "Two Bodhisattva and Ten Great Disciples of Buddha Sakyamuni (Nibosatsu Shaka judai deshi)" by Shiko Munakata

Ragora (Rahula), from the series "Two Bodhisattva and Ten Great Disciples of Buddha Sakyamuni (Nibosatsu Shaka judai deshi)"

1939-68

Woodblock print

Ubari (Upali), from the series "Two Bodhisattva and Ten Great Disciples of Buddha Sakyamuni (Nibosatsu Shaka judai deshi)" by Shiko Munakata

Ubari (Upali), from the series "Two Bodhisattva and Ten Great Disciples of Buddha Sakyamuni (Nibosatsu Shaka judai deshi)"

1939 (printed 1955)

Woodblock print

More Shunga Prints

Evening Glow for Date no Yosaku and Seki no Koman (Date no Yosaku Seki no Koman Sekisho), from the series Eight views of Traveling Lovers from Joruri Plays (Michiyuki hakkei) by Katsushika Hokusai

Evening Glow for Date no Yosaku and Seki no Koman (Date no Yosaku Seki no Koman Sekisho), from the series Eight views of Traveling Lovers from Joruri Plays (Michiyuki hakkei)

Zodiac Series of Erotica: Dog by Clifton Karhu

Zodiac Series of Erotica: Dog

Showa - Contemporary 1970's

Drawing

Zodiac Series of Erotica: Dragon by Clifton Karhu

Zodiac Series of Erotica: Dragon

Showa - Contemporary 1970's

Drawing

Shunga 1 by Miyagawa Shuntei

Shunga 1

1900

Woodblock print

Featured in Collections

Curated cross-cuts that include this print.

Sōsaku-Hanga: The Creative-Print Movement

Frequently Asked Questions

Disconsolate Lovers was created by Shiko Munakata (棟方志功) in ca. 1800.

Disconsolate Lovers depicts shunga.