Biography
Amano Kunihiro was a self-taught Japanese woodblock printmaker born in Hirosaki, Aomori Prefecture, who first exhibited his prints in 1955 after relocating to Tokyo. His compositions elegantly merge geometrical and natural forms, evolving from early bird and fish imagery toward increasingly abstract designs that incorporate embossed surfaces and obi-pattern motifs. His prints are held in the collections of the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Library of Congress, and museums across Europe.
Key Facts
- Active Period
- 1929–2020
- Nationality
- 🇯🇵Japan
- Movement
- Contemporary Mokuhanga
- Works Indexed
- 74
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Amano Kunihiro known for?
Amano Kunihiro was a self-taught Japanese woodblock printmaker born in Hirosaki, Aomori Prefecture, who first exhibited his prints in 1955 after relocating to Tokyo. His compositions elegantly merge geometrical and natural forms, evolving from early bird and fish imagery toward increasingly abstract designs that incorporate embossed surfaces and obi-pattern motifs. His prints are held in the collections of the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Library of Congress, and museums across Europe.
When was Amano Kunihiro active?
Amano Kunihiro was active from 1929 to 2020. They were associated with the Contemporary Mokuhanga movement.
What artistic movements influenced Amano Kunihiro?
Amano Kunihiro's work was shaped by the Contemporary Mokuhanga tradition in Japanese woodblock printmaking. Contemporary Mokuhanga: Contemporary mokuhanga (literally "wood-block print") encompasses artists working from approximately 1970 to the present who continue or reinvent traditional Japanese woodblock printing techniques.
Where can I see Amano Kunihiro's original prints?
Original prints by Amano Kunihiro can be found in collections including Art Institute of Chicago, Victoria and Albert Museum, Harvard Art Museums, Japanese Art Open Database.
Woodblock Prints by Amano Kunihiro (74)
Fish - C
1957
Woodblock print, ink and color on paper
Horse
1957
Woodblock print, ink on paper
Crying Bird
December 1957
Woodblock print, ink and color on paper
Winter (Fuyu)
1957
Color woodblock print
Dusk (Yugure)
1957
Color woodblock print
Fishes (Sakana)
1958
Color woodblock print; edition 17/50
Waning Moon
1960
Morning Moon - L
1961
Woodblock print, ink and color on paper
![Blue Moon (A) [Aoi tsuki (A)] by Amano Kunihiro](https://www.artic.edu/iiif/2/103681af-b044-e195-3439-3583a07539fd/full/843,/0/default.jpg)
Blue Moon (A) [Aoi tsuki (A)]
1962
Color woodblock print; edition 1/50
Cape - A
January 1963
Woodblock print, ink and color on paper
Enclosure (3)
1965
Color woodblock print; edition 10/30
Enclosure 32
1967
Color woodblock print; edition 7/50
Fossil "A Flower and the Birds" (8)
1968
Color lithograph with embossing; edition 9/60
Fossil 16
1970
Color woodblock print; edition 10/60
Imagination 47
Woodblock print
Morning 39
Woodblock print
Morning 11
Woodblock print
Morning 35
Woodblock print
Mask
Woodblock print
Distant Memory 32
Woodblock print
Doves
Woodblock print
Face
Woodblock print
Silence D
Woodblock print
First Spring- B
Woodblock print
Profile A
Woodblock print
Geese in Flight
Woodblock print
Abstract bird in forest
Woodblock print
Enclosure 11
Woodblock print
Two Blackbirds in Forest
Woodblock print
Crows C
Woodblock print
Apples — りんご
Woodblock print
Mountain Kabuto A — 山甲A
Woodblock print
Playing Fish B
Woodblock print
Dream Games 11 (15/50)
Woodblock print
Yama Kabuto Q 32/50
Woodblock print
Morning 13
Woodblock print
Morning 12
Woodblock print
Morning 15
Woodblock print
Morning 92
Woodblock print
Personifler 26
Woodblock print
Cranes in flight
Woodblock print
Untitled (amano-kunihiro)
Woodblock print
Untitled (amano-kunihiro)
Woodblock print
Untitled (amano-kunihiro)
Woodblock print
Untitled (amano-kunihiro)
Woodblock print
Untitled (amano-kunihiro)
Woodblock print
Untitled (amano-kunihiro)
Woodblock print
Untitled (amano-kunihiro)
Woodblock print
Untitled (amano-kunihiro)
Woodblock print
Untitled (amano-kunihiro)
Woodblock print
Untitled (amano-kunihiro)
Woodblock print
Untitled (amano-kunihiro)
Woodblock print
Untitled (amano-kunihiro)
Woodblock print
Untitled (amano-kunihiro)
Woodblock print
Untitled (amano-kunihiro)
Woodblock print
Untitled (amano-kunihiro)
Woodblock print
Untitled (amano-kunihiro)
Woodblock print
Untitled (amano-kunihiro)
Woodblock print
Untitled (amano-kunihiro)
Woodblock print
Untitled (amano-kunihiro)
Woodblock print