Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Kikukawa Eizan. It dates from 1827 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1827 by the Edo‑period artist Kikugawa Eizan, this woodblock print measures a modest size and is part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection. Executed with ink and color on paper, it exemplifies the ukiyo‑e tradition of the early nineteenth century.
Subject & Meaning
The scene depicts two women inside a sparsely furnished interior. One stands, holding a fan, her hair arranged in a high style and topped with a black ornamental piece, while the other kneels, presenting a bowl on a tray. The composition suggests a moment of service or ritual offering within a domestic setting.
Technique & Style
Eizan employs the characteristic bold line work and flat, saturated color fields of Japanese woodblock printing. The figures are rendered with clear outlines, and the background includes a colorful hanging scroll and a folded garment, adding visual interest without detracting from the central action.
History & Provenance
Since its production in the late Edo period, the print has passed through private collections before entering the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is displayed as part of the museum’s Japanese prints holdings.
Context
The depiction of a standing woman with exposed skin is atypical for conventional ukiyo‑e subjects, indicating Eizan’s willingness to explore more intimate or unconventional themes within the genre’s established visual language.
Artist & collection
Artist
Kikukawa Eizan was a designer of ukiyo-e style Japanese woodblock prints. He first studied with his father, Eiji, a minor painter of the Kanō school, and subsequently with Suzuki Nanrei (1775–1844), of the Shijō…
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Untitled
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