Matsubara, Naoko (1937 - Present)
Matsubara Naoko was born in Tokushima, Japan in 1937. She graduated from Kyoto University in 1960 and studied at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh on a Fulbright Grant. She taught art at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn. Matsubara’s father was the chief priest in a Shinto shrine in Kyoto and shrines and temples became one of the major themes of her work. Her style was influenced by one of her teachers, the famed, Shiko Munakata. Her works can be found in the Art Institute of Chicago, Tokyo National Museum of Modern Art, the Smithsonian and the Library of Congress in Washington DC, and the British Museum, to name a few.
Modern Art | Modern Japanese Prints and Paintings
The 20th century saw the emergence of two modern Japanese print movements: Shin Hanga, or “new prints,” and Sosaku Hanga, or “creative prints.” Both sought an identity somewhere between centuries of rich cultural tradition and modern global character. With growing realism, changing techniques, and a newfound international audience, the Shin Hanga movement portrayed familiar Japanese themes through modern eyes. From sensual beauties and expressive actors, to atmospheric landscapes and sensitive nature studies, the principal genres of ukiyo-e reasserted themselves with renewed vigor. The Sosaku Hanga movement emphasized the participation of the artist in every aspect of production. From carving to printing, modern Japanese printmaking adopted a more spontaneous, expressive attitude through the artistic explorations of this movement. Ranging from figural to abstract, Sosaku Hanga flourished after WWII. Explore Ronin Gallery's selection of modern prints and paintings below.
