Who painted Untitled?

Untitled was painted by Kitagawa Utamaro in 1798.

Where can I see Untitled?

Untitled is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is Untitled?

Untitled is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

Untitled

Kitagawa Utamaro , 1798

Untitled is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Kitagawa Utamaro. It dates from 1798 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

Created around 1798, this untitled woodblock print by Kitagawa Utamaro is a portrait executed in ink and color on paper, currently part of The Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection.

Subject & Meaning

The print depicts a serene woman with a high, intricately styled dark hairdo secured by wooden pins. Her calm face features soft facial lines and a subtle smile, conveying a sense of quiet contemplation.

Technique & Style

Utamaro employed simple, expressive lines and flat, vibrant colors to capture the subject's likeness and the intricate details of her attire, including the folds of her pink and white flower-patterned robe and the contrasting black sleeve.

History & Provenance

The work's provenance prior to its acquisition by The Metropolitan Museum of Art is not detailed here, but its creation date situates it within Utamaro's active period as a leading ukiyo-e artist in late 18th-century Japan.

Context

This print reflects the ukiyo-e tradition's focus on capturing scenes of beauty and everyday life in Edo-period Japan, with Utamaro being particularly renowned for his portraits of women.