Honolulu

Date:

1955

Medium:

Woodblock print

Edition:

Self-printed

Source:

Honolulu Museum of Art

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

"Honolulu" from 1955 — the year before his Venice Biennale triumph — captures the Hawaiian city during one of Munakata's early international travels. His Honolulu would not have been the tourist Honolulu of beach and hibiscus; true to his practice, he would have looked for the same qualities of essential energy and present vitality that he found in any subject. The tropical port city, with its volcanic backdrop, its harbor, and its complex cultural mixture of native Hawaiian, East Asian, and American influences, gave him a visual environment as rich with subject matter as any Japanese city.

More Prints 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)

Shôwa period, 1926-1989

Woodblock print

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)"

1939 (printed 1955)

Woodblock print

More Urban Scenes Prints

A Hundred Shades of Ink of Edo: Kiyonaga's Pipe (Edo zumi hyaku shoku: Kiyonaga no kiseru)

Woodblock print

View of Kabuki Theater from Matsuya (Ginza Matsuya yori Kabukiza), no. 3 from the series "Pictures of Ginza, First Series (Gashu Ginza dai isshu)"

1928

Color lithograph

Distant View of Mitsukoshi Movie Theater in Shinjuku from the Sixth Floor of Hoteiya (Hoteiya rokkai kara Shinjuku Mitsukoshi Musashi no kan enbo zu), no. 1 from the series "Scenery of Shinjuku (Gashu Shinjuku fukei)"

1930

Color lithograph

Spring Dusk at the Tōshō Shrine in Ueno

1948

Woodblock print, ink and color on paper

Featured in Collections

Curated cross-cuts that include this print.

Mount Fuji in Japanese Woodblock Prints Sōsaku-Hanga: The Creative-Print Movement Meisho-e: Famous-Place Prints

Frequently Asked Questions

Honolulu was created by Shiko Munakata (棟方志功) in 1955.

Honolulu depicts urban scenes, landscapes, and travel scenes.