Artwork
Untitled

Untitled is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Katsukawa Shunchō. It dates from 1790 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Katsukawa Shunchō's 'Untitled' is a woodblock print from circa 1790, featuring ink and color on paper, currently housed at The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts three women in traditional Japanese attire standing near a wooden structure, each absorbed in a personal, serene activity: one holds a fan, another carries a woven basket, and the third wears a distinctive wide-brimmed hat. Their individual poses convey a sense of quiet, everyday moments.
Technique & Style
Characteristic clean lines and flat, vibrant colors indicate the use of woodblock printing, a prevalent technique in Japanese art at the time. The composition's balance and the women's poses reflect the artist's attention to detail and harmony.
History & Provenance
Created around 1790, the work is now part of The Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection, though specific details of its journey to the museum are not provided in the available information.
Context
Set against a backdrop of a fence, trees, and a sign with Japanese writing, the scene blends natural and man-made elements, suggesting a tranquil, possibly rural or garden setting that was common in ukiyo-e art, which often depicted everyday life and nature.
Legacy
As a representative of late 18th-century Japanese woodblock printing, 'Untitled' contributes to the understanding and appreciation of ukiyo-e's role in capturing the daily lives and fashions of its time, though its specific impact or influence on later art movements is not detailed in the provided context.
Artist & collection
Artist
Katsukawa Shunchō lived in Edo (now Tokyo) during the late 1700s, a time when floating-world prints—colorful scenes of theater, courtesans, and everyday life—were all the rage.














