Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by the Baroque artist Nishimura Shigenaga. It dates from 1728 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1728 by the Edo‑period artist Nishimura Shigenaga, this untitled woodblock print depicts a bustling street procession. Executed with ink and color on paper, the work is part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection and exemplifies the genre‑scene tradition that celebrated everyday public festivities in early eighteenth‑century Japan.
Subject & Meaning
The composition follows a line of musicians and performers, each dressed in vivid robes and headgear. Drummers, flutists, and other instrumentalists march together, some bearing banners while a rider leads a tethered horse. The lively expressions and animated postures convey a communal celebration, reflecting the social importance of music and parade rituals in urban life.
Technique & Style
Shigenaga employs bold, saturated pigments and crisp line work to delineate figures and movement. The background features striped roofing and stylized cloud or floral motifs, rendered with cross‑hatching that adds depth without obscuring the flat decorative surface. The contrast between sharp outlines and fluid color fields creates a sense of kinetic energy typical of ukiyo‑e prints.
History & Provenance
The print was produced during the Kanpō era, a period noted for flourishing commercial publishing. It entered the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s holdings through a 20th‑century acquisition, joining a broader collection of Japanese prints that document the visual culture of Edo’s public spectacles.
Context
In the early 1700s, street bands and processional performances were common fixtures in festivals and religious observances. Artists like Shigenaga captured these moments to appeal to a growing urban audience eager for affordable, visually engaging depictions of contemporary life, thereby reinforcing the genre’s role as both documentation and entertainment.
Artist & collection
Artist
Nishimura Shigenaga spent his life in Edo, a city now called Tokyo, where he carved and printed pictures for a living.
