Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by the Japonisme artist Katsushika Hokusai. It dates from 1816 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This woodblock print, part of a surimono album, depicts an intimate interior scene dating from 1816.
About this work
Overview
This woodblock print, part of a surimono album, depicts an intimate interior scene dating from 1816. Executed in ink and color on paper, the image presents three figures within a modest room, their clothing and accessories rendered in vivid hues that contrast with the subdued surroundings.
Subject & Meaning
The composition shows two women seated on the floor, one holding a handheld fan and the other a fan‑shaped box, while a man reclines nearby in a relaxed posture. The sliding doors are painted with separate landscape motifs—a garden scene with a woman and a distant bridge—suggesting a juxtaposition of private leisure and the outside world.
Technique & Style
Created by the renowned ukiyo‑e artist Katsushika Hokusai, the work employs the surimono technique, a specialized form of woodblock printing used for limited‑edition albums. Fine line work and careful color application highlight the texture of the kimonos and the intricate patterns on the fans, while the flat background emphasizes the figures.
History & Provenance
The print was produced in 1816 and later entered the collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is currently held. Its inclusion in a surimono album indicates it was likely commissioned for a private audience, reflecting the period’s taste for refined, everyday genre scenes.
Artist & collection
Artist
Katsushika Hokusai spent his life in Edo, now Tokyo, where he drew and carved prints for a living.
