Abstract painting of black, spiky-textured rectangles layered on top of each other to form a larger square. Two black lines form an “L” on the left side of the square.

Tōkō Shinoda 篠田桃紅

Quiescence

Maker

Tōkō Shinoda 篠田桃紅 (Japanese, 1912-2021, b. in Manchuria, China
worked in Japan), designer

Title

Quiescence

Year

1985

Medium

Materials/Techniques

Techniques

Materials

hand coloring

Supports

Dimensions

71.1 x 52.7 cm (28 x 20 3/4 inches) (sheet)

Identification

Edition

10/38

Credit / Object Number

Credit

Ernest and Pearl Nathan Fund

Object Number

1992.044

Type

Exhibition History

Defying Boundaries
Women in Japanese Art
Apr 27, 2024 – Nov 04, 2024

Label copy

Richly textured with a few expressive lines, Quiescence reflects Tōkō Shinoda’s experimentation with tone and her investigation of the nature of ink. Here, the artist’s design is articulated by the printer, Kimura Kihachi.

Schooled in traditional Japanese calligraphy, Shinoda turned to abstract expressionism in the 1940s as an outlet for creative freedom. Marginalized in Japan’s male-dominated calligraphic world, Shinoda carved a niche for herself with her bold works. She continuously broke boundaries, transforming traditional calligraphy into new forms and mediums. 

Image use

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Tombstone

Tōkō Shinoda 篠田桃紅 (Japanese, 1912-2021, b. in Manchuria, China
worked in Japan), designer
Kimura Kihachi 木村希八 (Japanese, 1934-2014
worked in Japan), printer
Quiescence, 1985
Lithograph with metallic pigments and hand-brushed color on paper
71.1 x 52.7 cm (28 x 20 3/4 inches) (sheet)
Ernest and Pearl Nathan Fund 1992.044

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