Female Farmworker Wearing “Hankotanna” Face Mask

Toda Mitsuki 

1968 (Shōwa 43)

Work Featured in the 7th Daichōwa Exhibition

Donated by the artist

Toda Mitsuki (1906-1996) was born in Kannonji, Hachiman Town, Akumi District (modern Kannonji, Sakaka City). She graduated from Tōkyō Women’s Art School (modern Joshibi University of Art and Design). Afterwards, she found work at Iwata Practical Girls’ High School (now Iwata Academy Iwata Senior High School) in Oita City, Oita Prefecture. She was selected for the 7th HakujitsuFine Art Association and received a monetary prize for a work of high quality by an association member at the 9th Daichōwa Exhibition. She left for the United States in 1976, where, while continuing creating art via life sketching trips, she was also active as an instructor in Japan.

She often painted using motifs unique to Shōnai, such as this painting of a woman wearing a “hankotanna” face mask, with a theme of women at work.