Artwork

Untitled

Untitled, by Katsukawa Shuntei, ink, 1795
Untitled, by Katsukawa Shuntei, ink, 1795

Untitled is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Katsukawa Shuntei. It dates from 1795 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

Untitled is a woodblock print created in 1795 by Katsukawa Shuntei, now part of The Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection.

Subject & Meaning

The print depicts a pair in traditional Japanese attire: a foreground figure, a man with a solemn expression, holds a plaid fabric, while a woman behind him, wearing a differently patterned kimono, holds a lantern with a concerned look, suggesting a narrative of quiet, contrasting emotions.

Technique & Style

Executed in muted tones predominantly of black, beige, and peach, the print features a light beige background that accentuates the figures. The composition conveys a sense of subdued drama through the juxtaposition of the subjects' expressions.

History & Provenance

Created in 1795 by Katsukawa Shuntei, the work is currently housed at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, though specific details of its history prior to acquisition are not provided.

Context

This piece reflects late 18th-century Japanese woodblock printmaking, characterized by meticulous attention to traditional attire and emotive storytelling through subtle facial expressions.

Legacy

While specific influences or subsequent works directly inspired by this piece are not detailed, it remains a representative example of its era's aesthetic and narrative approaches in Japanese printmaking.

Artist & collection