1940
ink
From the collection of Museum of Modern Art
Dominant colour
Untitled is a 1940 ink by Shiko Munakata, depicting Kalighat, held at Museum of Modern Art.
A black-and-white woodcut shows strong lines and rough textures, like a storm caught in ink. The image feels bold and simple, with shapes that look carved by hand, not painted. Shiko Munakata made this print in 1940, working without fine tools—just a chisel and his own force. He often used soft wood like sakura (cherry), which splits easily, leaving jagged marks. Those marks became part of his style, not something to fix. He believed the wood helped guide the image. This raw way of printing is a key part of the woodcut technique.
Shikō Munakata (棟方 志功, Munakata Shikō; September 5, 1903 – September 13, 1975) was a woodblock printmaker active in Shōwa period Japan.
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