Hunger and Thirst
Dublin Core
Title
Hunger and Thirst
Subject
飢渴 (Kikatsu)
Description
Compared to Miyamoto's many war paintings, Hunger and Thirst is special in many ways. First, it wasn't commissioned by the military nor is it based on any specific military event or photograph. Miyamoto's conception for this painting came purely from this own imagination. Secondly, and most apparent, this painting does not portray a glorious subject. It shows an injured and downtrodden Japanese soldier surprised and horrified by his own face reflected from a puddle. Other than highlighting the horrors of war, this painting also depicts the dilemma of Japanese people trying to find their ideal self-identity in a caucasian-centered world.
Creator
宮本三郎 (Miyamoto Saburō)
Date
Shōwa 18 (1943)
Format
130 x 97 cm
Type
Oil on Canvas
Files
Collection
Citation
宮本三郎 (Miyamoto Saburō), “Hunger and Thirst,” Japanese Art in the 20th century - Empire, War, Occupation, accessed May 23, 2026, https://www.empire-war-occupation-20thcent-japaneseart.artinterp.org/items/show/73.