Who painted Untitled?

Untitled was painted by Tōshū in 1794.

Where can I see Untitled?

Untitled is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is Untitled?

Untitled is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

Untitled

Tōshū , 1794

Untitled is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Tōshū. It dates from 1794 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

The faces he drew look almost exaggerated—big noses, sharp chins—like caricatures of famous actors.

This print shows a man in a fierce pose, gripping a sword and glaring sideways. His face is white with bold black lines, and his robe swirls around him.

Sharaku made these prints for just ten months in 1794–95, then vanished. No one knows why he stopped or who he really was. The faces he drew look almost exaggerated—big noses, sharp chins—like caricatures of famous actors.

If you like this, look up the subject *actors*. They’re full of drama and style.

Overview

The woodblock print, created in 1794, portrays the celebrated kabuki performer Danjūrō Ichikawa VI in a dramatic stance, clutching a sword while his gaze is directed sideways. Rendered in stark black outlines against a white face, the figure is surrounded by a swirling robe that emphasizes movement and tension.

Subject & Meaning

The image captures a moment of theatrical intensity, reflecting the actor’s signature roles that often involved samurai or heroic characters. The sword and the fierce expression convey themes of resolve and confrontation, typical of the dramatic narratives presented on the Edo‑period stage.

Technique & Style

Executed with traditional ukiyo‑e woodblock methods, the print combines ink line work with selective color application. Sharaku’s characteristic exaggeration of facial features—prominent noses and sharp chins—creates a stylized portrait that borders on caricature while retaining the actor’s recognizable likeness.

History & Provenance

This work belongs to the brief, ten‑month period (1794–95) during which the enigmatic artist Tōshūsai Sharaku produced his known prints before disappearing from the art world. The identity of Sharaku and the reasons for his sudden cessation remain subjects of scholarly debate.

Context

Printed in Edo’s bustling publishing district, the portrait reflects the contemporary appetite for actor prints, which served both as promotional material for theatrical productions and as collectible souvenirs for fans of kabuki culture.