Contemporary Japanese Art

Japan

Toko Shinoda (篠田 桃紅, Japan / China, 1913-present) is a Japanese contemporary artist known for her elegant and bold sumi-e (ink paintings) and lithographic prints. She lived and exhibited in New York during the Abstract Expressionist movement and continues to work today in Tokyo.

Works by Toko Shinoda

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Saga by Toko Shinoda

Saga by Toko Shinoda (Japan, 1913-2021). A tremendously powerful work. One of Toko Shinoda's few triptych's which she produced in her career. Published in 1982. Lithograph print spanning 3 sheets with hand applied sumi-e ink in red and silver lyrically uniting the composition. Signed in pencil by the artist. Limited edition numbered 10 of 35. Titled Saga in pencil.

Size: 71 7/10" w x 24" h (triptych); 16 2/10" w x 24" h (sheet)
Condition: Excellent. Framed.

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Take II 1966 by Toko Shinoda

Take II (Bamboo B2) by Toko Shinoda (Japan, 1913). Sumi ink on paper mounted on plywood. Executed in 1966. Artist seal lower left. Signed, titled, and dated on verso.

Size: 9 5/8" h x 7 3/4" w. Frame: 10 1/8" w x 8 1/4" h.
Condition: Excellent. 

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After The Rain by Toko Shinoda

After The Rain by Toko Shinoda (Japan, 1913). Strong abstract sumi-e (Japanese ink) painting. Paper laid to board as is common for Toko Shinoda works during this period. Artist seal bottom left. Titled verso and signed by the artist in English. Work is not dated but it's estimated that this work was executed in the 1960's.

Size: 18 1/4" h x 15 1/4" w
Condition: Good overall. Small water stain to lower right edge.

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Nexus by Toko Shinoda

Nexus by Toko Shinoda (Japan, 1913). A beautiful abstract sumi-e (Japanese ink) painting with strong lines and an elegantly minimal design executed by a clearly disciplined hand. Paper laid on board as is common for Toko Shinoda paintings of this period. Red chop mark bottom right. "Nexus" titled to verso, signed and dated 1964 in Japanese.

Size: 19" h x 14" w
Condition: Very good.

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Road by Toko Shinoda

Road by Toko Shinoda (Japan, 1913). Color lithograph on BFK (watermark). Signed, dated, titled, and inscribed by the artist. Dated 1965. Japanese Art Association (publisher). Number artist proof.

Size: 22" h x 15" w
Condition: Good overall. Sheet minimally browned. Slight creases in both upper corner areas. Recto and verso minimal, occasional stainings. Verso slightly bled-through paint. Traces of an old mounting in both upper corners.

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Sprout No 5 by Toko Shinoda

Sprout No 5 by Toko Shinoda (Japan, 1913). Lithograph on BFK RIVES (watermark). Signed, dated, numbered, and titled by the artist. Dated 1965. Japanese Art Association (publisher). Limited edition number 4 of 10.

Size: 25 3/4" h x 19 2/3" w
Condition: Good overall. Sheet minimally browned. Slightly rubbed surface in lines in the deep black printed area. Minor, occasional foxing. Minimal staining on the left above the printed area. Verso rests of an old mounting on the upper edge centrally. Label in the lower left corner.

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Sound by Toko Shinoda

Sound by Toko Shinoda (Japan, 1913). Abstract lithograph by one of Japan's most preeminent artists. Dates to circa 1990. Limited edition numbered 29 of 30. Pencil titled, signed and numbered by the artist.

Size: 17 5/8" h x 23 3/8" w
Condition: Slight toning; faint residue from prior mount at reverse top corners

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Source AP by Toko Shinoda

Source AP by Toko Shinoda (Japan, 1913). Artist proof print lithograph (presumably ink). Dated 1965. Signed in ink by the artist. Titled "Source" in ink. Initial print from the artist's "Source" series.

Size: 22" h x 15" w
Condition: Very good. Tape remnants top left and right of sheet.

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Efflorescent by Toko Shinoda work no longer available

Efflorescent by Toko Shinoda (Japan, 1913). Contemporary abstract Japanese lithograph print. Published on BFK Rives paper with watermark. Sealed JAA bottom left.

Size: 30" h x 22" w
Condition: Good impression. Creasing to paper. Handling marks throughout. Slight toning to edges. Notation to verso. Mark middle right side on recto.

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Dawn by Toko Shinoda work no longer available

Dawn by Toko Shinoda (Japan, 1913). Contemporary abstract Japanese lithograph print. Published on BFK Rives paper with watermark to margin.

Size: 25 3/4" h x 19 1/2" w
Condition: Very good color and impression. Mild creasing to paper. Some handling marks. Tape remnants verso. Notation on verso.

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Source 8 by Toko Shinoda work no longer available

Source 8 by Toko Shinoda (Japan, 1913). Mid century minimalist lithograph print. Part of the "Source" series printed in the mid 1960's. Pencil, signed, title and dated by the artist. Dated 1965. Limited edition numbed 14 of 20. Printed on watermarked paper. JAA paper mark bottom right.

Size: 30" h x 22" w
Condition: Good color and impression. Handling marks. Slight soiling to the edges. Some toning to margins. Notes on verso.

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Source 11 by Toko Shinoda work no longer available

Source 11 by Toko Shinoda (Japan, 1913). Mid-century black and white minimalist lithograph print. Part of the "Source" series. Edition notation artist print. Dated 1965. Pencil signed, title, editioned and dated by the artist. Printed on watermarked paper.

Size: 25 3/4" h x 19 4/5" w
Condition: Good color and impression. Handling creases. Slight toning to edges. Stains to verso from previous mounting. Notes on verso.

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Moon by Toko Shinoda work no longer available

Moon by Toko Shinoda (Japan, 1913). Mid-century lithograph print. Limited edition numbered 3 of 10. Signed, titled, dated and numbered in pencil by the artist. Early lithograph published in 1965.

SIze: 30" h x 22" w
Condition: Good color and impression. Handlng creases. Toning to edges. Tape remnant on verso. Notes on verso.

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Source 2 by Toko Shinoda work no longer available

Source 2 by Toko Shinoda (Japan, 1913). Limited edition color lithograph numbered 7 of 10. An early lithograph done as part of the "Source" series. Published in 1965. Signed, titled, dated and numbered in pencil by the artist. Paper seal bottom left reading "JAA". 

Size: 25 3/4" h x 19 3/4" w
Condition: Very good color and impression. Light handling creases. Notations on verso.

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Revelation by Toko Shinoda work no longer available

Revelation by Toko Shinoda (Japan, 1919). Abstract color lithograph on paper. Black hughes with energetic strokes of red. Titled and signed in pencil by the artist. Limited edition 25 of 35.

Size: 15 1/4" h x 12" w (sight), 22 1/2" h x 19" w (framed)
Condition: Excellent.

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Sign of Spring by Toko Shinoda work no longer available

Sign of Spring by Toko Shinoda (Japan, 1913). Contemporary lithograph with Sumi-e Brushstrokes. Limited edition numbered 32 of 45. Published by the artist. Printed in 1983.

Size" 15 3/4" h x 11 1/4" w
Condition: Very fine. Tape remnants on verso.

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Phase by Toko Shinoda work no longer available

Phase by Toko Shinoda (Japan, 1913). Abstract lithograph. Dates to circa 1990. Signed, titled, and numbered lower right by the artist. Limited edition numbered 43 of 50. Provenance: Kanda's Gallery B.O.Q, Tokyo, Japan.

Size: 13.5" h x 19.5" w (image), 17" h x 22.75" w (sight), 28" h x 34" w (frame)
Condition: Very good. Framed.

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Rippling by Toko Shinoda work no longer available

Rippling by Toko Shinoda (Japan, 1913). Original lithograph with Sumi-e brushstrokes. Limited edition numbered 29 of 45. Published in 1998. Self published by the artist. Pencil signed, titled and numbered by the artist. The red sumi-e strokes are from the artist's Ming Dynasty ink block.

Size: 15 3/4" h x 11 -1/4" w
Condition: Excellent.

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Crystalline by Toko Shinoda work no longer available

Crystalline by Toko Shinoda (Japan, 1913). Beautiful abstract lithograph print by one of Japan's preeminent artists. A fine, firm composition with geometric emphasis, with delicately rendered detail in red and white wash on the horizontal stroke. Signed, titled and numbered in pencil by the artist. Limited edition numbered 24 of 30.

Size: 26" h x 20" w
Condition: Very good, with slight discoloration to paper due to previous framing.

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Source 7 AP by Toko Shinoda work no longer available

Source 7 AP by Toko Shinoda (Japan, 1913). Artist proof print lithograph. Pencil signed and titled. Dated 1965. Part of Shinoda's Source series.

Size: 21.5" h x 15" w
Condition: Very good condition. Some slight handling marks towards top of sheet. Framed.

Biography

print biography

Toko Shinoda (篠田 桃紅, Japan / China, 1913-present) is a Japanese artist known for her elegant and bold sumi-e (ink paintings) and lithographic prints. She lived and exhibited in New York during the Abstract Expressionist movement and continues to work today in Tokyo.

Born in Dalian, Manchuria, China, Toko Shinoda and her family moved back to their native country, Japan, two years after her birth. At age 6, Shinoda learned waka poetry, calligraphy, and sumi-e (sumi, meaning ink, and -e meaning paint) from her father. She continued her artistic studies throughout her early life and first exhibited her work at age 20 in Tokyo. By her 30s, she was using ink to create abstract paintings. In part with her unique style and recognition from the influential art dealer Betty Parsons, Shinoda moved to New York in 1956 and displayed her work in many solo exhibitions. She adopted there the postwar artistic movement of abstract expressionism. Shinoda took inspiration from abstract expressionists like Jackson Pollack, Barnett Newman, Helen Frankenthaler, and Robert Motherwell. Shinoda moved back to Japan in 1958, but continued to create artwork with a free and loose style like the other contemporary artists in New York.

Throughout her career, Shinoda never strayed from her chosen medium: sumi (ink). Shinoda uses ink stones made of soot (or cinnabar for red) to create the loose pigment that is bound with animal glue. Some of the ink bars Shinoda uses date back to the Ming Dynasty in China (1368-1644), when it was first created for the purpose of calligraphy. Shinoda adds water collected from rain on the rocks near her home overlooking Mount Fuji and turns the bars into a workable medium. Part measures of ink to water control the tone of black. She applies the ink on paper or hemp canvas with brushes that vary in size. Individual brushstrokes are controlled with pressure and swift movement. Shinoda, in her formative artistic career, began making lithographs to mass-produce her work. Lithography also allows her to make spontaneous drawings directly onto stone, like sumi-e. Shinoda, after every print, paints on top of the works to ensure each piece embodies her signature mark and touch. Each painting or lithographic stone requires great control because every mark on the paper can not be reversed, unlike an oil painting. Shinoda’s abstract work invites open-ended interpretation and speculation from the viewer. Shinoda explains her artistic process by stating, “Certain forms float up in my mind’s eye… I try to capture these vague, evanescent images of the instant and put them into vivid form.” Often, Shinoda’s images allude to nature and the stages and rhythms of life. She expresses this vitality with expressive repetition and clean lines. Shinoda is also known to highlight the negative space in her prints, a traditional Japanese practice known as yohaku. The negative space acts as an active part of the composition.

Shinoda sublimely merges abstract and non-objective art with traditional and mandated Eastern art practices, which makes her a pioneer and artistic revolutionary in her own right. Shinoda never joined any specific schools or styles in Japan and continues to create art in her personal studio. Shinoda has participated in the prestigious annual CWAJ Print Shows in Tokyo, Japan for over 40 years and has exhibited all over the world. She is represented by the Tolman Collection in Tokyo, the largest publishers of contemporary Japanese graphic art, and exhibits annually as a solo artist. Her commitment to her art has also extended beyond conventional painting and printmaking. Shinoda produced a large-scale mural for the Tokyo Olympic Games’ National Stadium in Yoyogi. She also designed a mural and sliding doors for the Zojoji Temple in Tokyo. Shinoda is one of the first female artists of the twentieth century to collaborate with architects and interior designers by producing designs for theater curtains, ceramic reliefs for building exteriors, and etchings for stainless steel elevator doors. Shinoda also authored several successful books and essays. The Singapore Art Museum held a retrospective of Shinoda’s oeuvre in 1996- a notable achievement. Shinoda was the first Japanese artist to receive such an honor in Singapore, a notable achievement considering past political conflicts between the two nations. In 2005, Toko Shinoda was selected among the “100 Japanese People the World Respects” by Newsweek (Japanese edition). Shinoda’s work can be found in major collections like the National Museum of Modern Art in Tokyo, Art Institute of Chicago, Hague National Museum, British Museum, Museum of Modern Art in New York, and the Guggenheim Museum. Shinoda still lives and works in Tokyo.

Insights

Abstraction in Postwar Japanese Printmaking

by: Lia Robinson

In 1951, printmakers Kiyoshi Saitō 斉藤清 (1907–1997) and Tetsurō Komai 駒井哲郎(1920-1976) were awarded top prizes at the Sao Paolo Biennale, gaining instant recognition for Japanese prints in the increasingly global art world. Their success, unmatched by painters and sculptors at the same biennale, represented a flourishing of Japanese printmaking from the 1950s to the 1970s. The resurgence of creative printmaking in postwar Japan was characterized by innovative, abstract styles and themes that engaged with the rapid transformations of the era. Promoted by artists around the world as the common language of modern art, abstraction was thought to espouse international humanism, individualism, and liberalism following the traumatic experiences under the totalitarian regimes of World War II. This trend toward self-expression and barrier-breaking in the arts ushered in an unprecedented age of experimentation reinforced by transnational networks of avant-garde artists in Japan, Europe and America.

The Artistic Evolution of Toko Shinoda

by: Caroline Moore

“Without [art], I wouldn’t feel quite alive, or I wouldn’t feel like I should be living without doing some work. You could say it’s a sense of responsibility. It’s the proof that I am alive.” Toko Shinoda, 2017