Masao Nakada - Kyōdo gangu shikishi, vintage Japanese painting, postwar Showa, mid 20th century

Masao Nakada (Japanese: 中田政夫; 1905-1980) was an Okayama-based painter and designer associated with Shun’yōkai, a Japanese modern art exhibition society primarily focused on Western-style painting.

This postwar Showa-period shikishi is an ink-and-color Japanese painting depicting a stylized folk-toy figure. The image is reduced and decorative, with the figure placed simply within the open space of the shikishi format.

Kyōdo gangu are Japanese local folk toys and figures, historically connected with regional customs, festivals, legends, protective symbols, and folk belief. They include painted clay figures, papier-mache forms, wooden toys, zodiac animals, lucky figures, and small objects linked to local performance traditions.

Condition

Vintage condition. Natural age-related wear is present, including light toning, signs of time to the surface and edges, and general handling wear consistent with a vintage Japanese painting. Please review the photos carefully.

Size

Size (approx.): 24 x 27 cm.

Shipping

Safe and tracked shipping from Latvia (Riga Gallery of Japanese Art CloudyYokomido). Protective packaging.

For US buyers

This item enters the United States duty-free.

More shikishi in our shop

Nature shikishi
https://www.etsy.com/shop/CloudyYokomido?ref=dashboard-header§ion_id=56228920

Landscape shikishi
https://www.etsy.com/shop/CloudyYokomido?ref=dashboard-header§ion_id=56228720

Zen Ink shikishi
https://www.etsy.com/shop/CloudyYokomido?ref=dashboard-header§ion_id=56228708

Figure shikishi
https://www.etsy.com/shop/CloudyYokomido?ref=dashboard-header§ion_id=56246505

Life shikishi
https://www.etsy.com/shop/CloudyYokomido?ref=dashboard-header§ion_id=56246575

Mythic shikishi
https://www.etsy.com/shop/CloudyYokomido?ref=dashboard-header§ion_id=56229210