Tōkō Shinoda 篠田桃紅

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.