Artwork

Untitled

Untitled, by Kawanishi Hide, ink, 1954
Untitled, by Kawanishi Hide, ink, 1954

Untitled is an ink print by Kawanishi Hide. It dates from 1954 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.

About this work

Overview

Untitled is a 1954 woodcut by Japanese artist Hide Kawanishi, known for his contributions to modern Japanese printmaking.

Subject & Meaning

The print depicts a tall tree with vibrant red leaves set against a dark sky, its twisting branches evoking a sense of organic vitality.

Technique & Style

Kawanishi carved the image directly into wood, employing the traditional woodcut technique, which yields a textured surface with visible knife marks and a bold, flat color palette.

History & Provenance

The work is part of The Museum of Modern Art's collection, and was created by an artist who participated in the painting event at the 1932 Summer Olympics.

Artist & collection

Artist

Kawanishi Hide

Hide Kawanishi (川西 英, Kawanishi Hide; 9 July 1894 – 20 February 1965) was a Japanese painter. His work was part of the painting event in the art competition at the 1932 Summer Olympics.

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: Museum of Modern Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.