Lilian May Miller ⁽³⁾

Lilian May Miller (1895–1943) was an American artist, poet, and printmaker who gained acclaim for her stunning Japanese-style woodblock prints and paintings. As a unique figure straddling Eastern and Western artistic traditions, Miller created works that reflected her deep appreciation for Japanese aesthetics while contributing to the broader Art Deco and modernist movements.

Born in Tokyo, Japan, to American parents, Miller grew up immersed in Japanese culture. Her father, an American diplomat, ensured that she received a bilingual and bicultural upbringing. From an early age, Miller displayed artistic talent, studying traditional Japanese painting (nihonga) under masters such as Shimada Bokusen.

Miller later attended Vassar College in New York, studying literature and art. She returned to Japan in 1918, where she began her professional career as an artist, incorporating her bicultural identity into her work.

Miller was best known for her mokuhanga (Japanese woodblock prints), which she created in the traditional manner. She distinguished herself from other Western artists in Japan by designing, carving, and printing her own works, a rare practice among printmakers at the time. Her prints often depicted serene landscapes, rural scenes, and delicate floral compositions, blending Japanese minimalism with a modernist sensibility.