Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by the Baroque artist Hishikawa Morofusa. It dates from 1716 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1716 by the Edo‑period printmaker Hishikawa Morofusa, this monochrome woodblock print—executed in sumie ink on paper—belongs to the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The work is untitled, and its composition centers on an intimate interior scene rendered entirely in black ink, emphasizing line and tonal variation over color.
Subject & Meaning
One figure sits on the floor, fan in hand, gazing at a low stand that holds several open boxes.
The image depicts two women within a modestly furnished room. One figure sits on the floor, fan in hand, gazing at a low stand that holds several open boxes. The other stands nearby, holding a fan and a scroll while reading a book. The quiet activity, suggested by the fans and opened containers, implies a shared literary or poetic pastime typical of refined leisure in early eighteenth‑century Japan.
Technique & Style
Morofusa employs sumie, a monochrome ink technique, to achieve depth through varied line density and cross‑hatching. Delicate, precise strokes define the women’s floral‑patterned kimono, while broader washes suggest the room’s spatial recession. The absence of color directs attention to the subtle gradations of tone, allowing the artist to model forms and suggest texture solely through ink.
History & Provenance
The print was produced in 1716, during a flourishing period for ukiyo‑e woodblock publishing. It entered the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection through acquisition (date of acquisition not specified), where it remains part of the museum’s representation of early Edo‑period printmaking.
Artist & collection
