Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink painting by the Baroque artist Miyagawa Chōshun. It dates from 1726 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Rendered in ink and color on silk, the composition centers on the figure clad in a red robe, holding a fan with a calm, expressionless countenance.
Created in 1726, this hanging scroll by Miyagawa Chōshun depicts a solitary woman standing before a bamboo screen. Rendered in ink and color on silk, the composition centers on the figure clad in a red robe, holding a fan with a calm, expressionless countenance. The work exemplifies Chōshun's transition from the decorative Kanō style toward the emerging ukiyo-e aesthetic, characterized by a focus on contemporary subjects and refined, delicate brushwork. Subtle details, such as the faint patterning on the garment, demonstrate the artist's meticulous attention to texture and form. This piece is historically significant as one of the few surviving works by Chōshun, a pioneer who bridged the gap between traditional painting and the woodblock print tradition. The majority of his oeuvre was destroyed in a fire, making extant paintings like this rare testaments to his early influence on the development of ukiyo-e portraiture in the 18th century.
Subject & Meaning
The figure wears a vivid red robe and stands before a bamboo screen, holding a fan in one hand. Her expression is composed and almost neutral, suggesting a contemplative or ceremonial presence rather than a narrative scene.
Technique & Style
Chōshun employs delicate brushwork to suggest texture, such as the faint pattern on the robe’s fabric. The ink lines define the form while subtle color washes provide depth, reflecting the artist’s meticulous approach to surface detail.
History & Provenance
Most of Chōshun’s paintings were destroyed in a later fire, making this scroll one of the few extant works attributed to him. Its survival offers insight into his broader oeuvre, which is otherwise known only through written records.
Artist & collection
