Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Katsukawa Shunshō. It dates from 1785 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created around 1785 by the Edo‑period artist Katsukawa Shunshō, this nishiki‑e woodblock print measures a typical size for single‑sheet ukiyo‑e works and is part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection. The image is rendered in ink and color on paper, employing the multi‑block technique that defines Japanese polychrome prints of the late 18th century.
Subject & Meaning
The composition depicts a solitary male figure seated with his legs crossed, dressed in a stark black‑and‑white garment. He bears a sword at his side, holds a small fan‑like object, and wears a traditional topknot. The setting includes a bamboo fence, a low table, and rolled mats, suggesting an interior space associated with refined, perhaps scholarly, activity.
Technique & Style
Shunshō’s print relies on bold, clean outlines that define the figure and surrounding objects, while flat areas of color provide contrast between light and dark zones. The artist uses cross‑hatching within the inked lines to suggest subtle shading, a common method in ukiyo‑e for rendering texture without compromising the overall graphic clarity.
History & Provenance
The work entered the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s holdings through acquisition in the early 20th century, reflecting the museum’s long‑standing interest in Japanese prints. Its attribution to Shunshō, a prominent member of the Katsukawa school, aligns with the artist’s known output of portraiture and genre scenes during the 1780s.
Artist & collection
Artist
Katsukawa Shunshō spent his life in Edo (now Tokyo), where the city’s teahouses and theaters buzzed with energy.
