Artwork

Untitled

Untitled, by Eishōsai Chōki, ink, 1770
Untitled, by Eishōsai Chōki, ink, 1770

Untitled is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Eishōsai Chōki. It dates from 1770 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

Untitled, a woodblock print by Eishōsai Chōki (1770), is a Japanese print held in The Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection, characterized by its depiction of a traditionally attired figure.

Subject & Meaning

The print portrays a man in traditional Japanese attire, including a robe adorned with white cranes over a red undergarment, a striped sash, and dual swords, conveying a sense of formality and possibly alluding to a role of authority or performance, given the common depiction of actors in such prints.

Technique & Style

Executed with bold outlines and flat, unshaded colors, the print contrasts the detailed, patterned fabrics of the subject's attire against a simplified background of a wooden wall and a small window, emphasizing the figure's robust posture.

History & Provenance

Created in 1770 by Eishōsai Chōki, the work is now part of The Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection, though specific acquisition details are not provided here.

Context

Typical of its era, the print may draw from the tradition of depicting actors or dignitaries in Japanese woodblock art, suggesting the subject might be a representation of a performer or a figure of stature.

Legacy

As part of a prominent museum collection, 'Untitled' contributes to the understanding and appreciation of 18th-century Japanese woodblock printing techniques and the cultural context of its time.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Eishōsai Chōki

Artist

Eishōsai Chōki

Eishōsai Chōki made delicate woodblock prints of women in the late 1700s Edo period.