Artwork

Untitled

Untitled, by Torii Kiyohiro, ink, 1757
Untitled, by Torii Kiyohiro, ink, 1757

Untitled is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Torii Kiyohiro. It dates from 1757 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1757, this woodblock print by Torii Kiyohiro is catalogued as Untitled and forms part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection. Executed with ink and color on paper, the image presents a solitary female figure rendered in a strikingly simple composition that foregrounds her attire and posture.

Subject & Meaning

The central figure is a woman dressed in a long, flowing robe adorned with bold floral motifs in pink, green, and black. Her hair is lifted high and secured with a few decorative pins, while a dark obi encircles her waist, suggesting a formal or ceremonial appearance typical of Edo‑period portraiture.

Technique & Style

Kiyohiro employed the traditional woodblock process, carving each color area into separate blocks and printing them in succession. The swirling floral patterns on the robe display fine brush‑like strokes that mimic hand‑painting, and the plain background emphasizes the figure, a compositional choice common in ukiyo‑e portrait prints.

History & Provenance

The print has remained in the public domain since its creation, eventually entering the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Its attribution to Torii Kiyohiro, a noted artist of the Torii school, aligns it with the prolific output of mid‑18th‑century commercial prints produced for the pleasure districts of Edo.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Torii Kiyohiro

Artist

Torii Kiyohiro

Torii Kiyohiro lived in Edo (now Tokyo) when the city was growing fast and theater was everywhere.