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From the series “Nature Through the Twelve Months.” The Japanese title of this series Ryuryokkako-sho means “the willow is green, the flowers crimson,”a Zen saying that is a favourite of Munakata. It is a metaphor for the naturalness of all phenomena. Munakata also admired the beauty of hanafuda, early Japanese playing cards matched in suits of twelve that illustrate floral motifs. When he acquired a number of large square boards, he decided to express the Zen world of Ryuryokkako-sho, in terms of the twelve months of the year. The hanafuda cards inspired him to separate his favourite flowers and trees into the four seasons; he also included birds, animals insects and shells in his compositions.
An exquisite lithograph produced on a very textural Japanese ‘washi’ paper, published by Yasukawa as part of their collaborative calendar project.
Dimensions: 31 x 39 cm approx.
Original Printing Date: 1958 (Lithograph printing date 2019)
Medium: Lithograph
