Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by Kuang Xü|Duo Yenshi. It dates from 1922 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
You see a tall, narrow scroll with bright colors: a Chinese woman in a long robe stands under a flowering tree, holding a fan.
You see a tall, narrow scroll with bright colors: a Chinese woman in a long robe stands under a flowering tree, holding a fan.
This print was made in 1922, when woodblock printing was mostly used for books and posters. Here, the artist treated it like a painting—layering colors carefully, almost like brushstrokes. The woman’s face is smooth, but her robe has tiny lines that show folds and shadows.
To see more prints like this, look up the subject: china.
Overview
Untitled, a 1922 woodblock print by Kuang Xü, is a polychrome hanging scroll on paper, combining ink and color. Currently housed at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, it depicts a Chinese woman in a long robe standing beneath a flowering tree, holding a fan, set against a vibrant, vertically oriented composition.
Subject & Meaning
The print portrays a serene Chinese woman in traditional attire, emphasizing elegance and tranquility. Her pose under a flowering tree, with a fan in hand, conveys a sense of refined leisure, drawing on traditional Chinese motifs to evoke cultural and aesthetic values.
Technique & Style
Kuang Xü innovatively treated woodblock printing as a painterly medium, layering colors to mimic brushstrokes. The woman’s smooth face contrasts with the intricately rendered, textured folds and shadows of her robe, achieved through meticulous line work.
History & Provenance
Created in 1922, a period when woodblock printing was predominantly used for utilitarian purposes like books and posters, this work stands out for its artistic experimentation. Its current location is The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Artist & collection
