Total Abandon (Mukotai no saku), from a series iIllustrating Tanizaki Junichiro's "The Key (Kagi)"

Date:: 1956 (printed 1958)
Medium:: Woodblock print
Edition:: Self-printed
Source:: Art Institute of Chicago

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

"Total Abandon (Mukotai no saku)" from a series illustrating Tanizaki Junichiro's novel "The Key" (Kagi) — carved in 1956, printed in 1958 — places Munakata in direct dialogue with one of Japan's most celebrated and controversial modern novelists. Tanizaki's "The Key" (1956) explored erotic desire and its complications within a marriage, and Munakata's illustration brings his characteristic directness to a subject that demanded exactly that quality. The title "Mukotai" (total abandon, or complete giving-over) names the state of erotic dissolution that Tanizaki's novel analyzed with such clinical precision, and Munakata renders it with the passionate energy that made his figure prints so compelling.

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 Nude Prints

Tsuta Hot Springs in Mutsu Province (Mutsu Tsuta onsen), from the series "Souvenirs of Travel, First Series (Tabi miyage dai isshu)"

Mutsu Tsuta onsen

1919

Color woodblock print; oban

Namari Spa, Iwate Prefecture (Iwate ken Namari onsen)

1943

Color woodblock print

Autumn at the Arayu Hot Spring, Shiobara

Autumn 1920

Woodblock print, ink and color on paper

Arifuku Spa, Iwami, from the series "Souvenirs of Travel, Third Series" (Tabi miyage dai sanshu, Iwami Arifuku onsen)

1924

Color woodblock print

Featured in Collections

Curated cross-cuts that include this print.

Sōsaku-Hanga: The Creative-Print Movement Bijin-ga: Japanese Beauty Prints

Frequently Asked Questions

Total Abandon (Mukotai no saku), from a series iIllustrating Tanizaki Junichiro's "The Key (Kagi)" was created by Shiko Munakata (棟方志功) in 1956 (printed 1958).

Total Abandon (Mukotai no saku), from a series iIllustrating Tanizaki Junichiro's "The Key (Kagi)" depicts nude, figures, and bijin-ga.