Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by the Baroque artist Torii Kiyomasu I. It is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Untitled is a woodblock print created by Torii Kiyomasu I in 1716-1749, held at The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts two figures in a serene indoor scene with a balcony and tiled walls. The kneeling figure holds a fan, while the standing figure, dressed in a checkered robe, grasps a stick with a flower branch. Their traditional hairstyles and patterned clothing suggest a connection to theater or performance.
Technique & Style
The composition combines simple lines for the architecture with bold, blocky colors for the figures' robes, creating a striking visual contrast. The use of ink and color on paper is characteristic of woodblock printing techniques.
Context
Woodblock prints from this period often featured scenes related to the theater, suggesting that the figures may be actors or performers. The serene atmosphere and attention to detail in their clothing and surroundings add to the scene's quiet intimacy.
Artist & collection
Artist
Torii Kiyomasu was the shop name of a printmaker in Edo—modern Tokyo—who spent his short career plastering the city with bold, eye-catching posters.
