Who painted Untitled?

Untitled was painted by Kawanabe Kyōsai 河鍋暁斎 in 1850.

Where can I see Untitled?

Untitled is held by Victoria and Albert Museum.

What movement is Untitled?

Untitled is associated with Ukiyo-e.

Can I buy a print of Untitled?

Museum-quality prints of Untitled are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Untitled

Kawanabe Kyōsai 河鍋暁斎 , 1850

Untitled is a paint painting by the Ukiyo-e artist Kawanabe Kyōsai 河鍋暁斎. It dates from 1850 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.

About this work

Overview

This painting is an untitled work by Kawanabe Kyosai, a Meiji period artist. It depicts a scene from the Japanese folktale, Tale of Kachi-kachi Yama.

Subject & Meaning

The scene shows a rabbit in peasant attire striking a tinder-box to set fire to a tanuki's back, illustrating a pivotal moment in the tale where the rabbit exacts revenge on the tanuki. The animals are anthropomorphized, wearing human clothing and adopting human-like postures.

Technique & Style

The use of chiaroscuro, a technique that utilizes strong contrasts between light and dark, is evident in this painting. This stylistic choice adds depth and dimension to the scene.

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Artist & collection

Artist

Kawanabe Kyōsai 河鍋暁斎

Kawanabe Kyōsai (河鍋暁斎; May 18, 1831 – April 26, 1889) was a Japanese painter and caricaturist. In the words of art historian Timothy Clark, "an individualist and an independent, perhaps the last virtuoso in traditional Japanese painting".