Who painted Untitled?

Untitled was painted by Torii Kiyomasu I in 1713.

Where can I see Untitled?

Untitled is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is Untitled?

Untitled is associated with Baroque.

Artwork

Untitled

Torii Kiyomasu I , 1713

Untitled is an ink print by the Baroque artist Torii Kiyomasu I. It dates from 1713 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

Created around 1713, this woodblock print by Torii Kiyomasu I exemplifies early Edo‑period commercial art. Executed with ink and color on paper, the composition features two figures rendered in stark, flat hues that dominate the surface. The work is part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection, where it is catalogued without a formal title.

Subject & Meaning

The upper figure, distinguished by a tall black hat and a red robe patterned in black, holds a fan and a scroll, suggesting a role of authority or performance. Beneath, a smaller, kneeling figure in a plain garment clutches a fan and a diminutive object, creating a hierarchical visual dialogue that may reference theatrical or ceremonial interaction.

Technique & Style

Kiyomasu employs sharp, decisive outlines and unmodulated color fields, characteristic of the Torii school’s emphasis on graphic clarity. The flat application of reds, blacks, and whites, combined with simplified shapes, heightens the dramatic pose of the subjects while minimizing background detail, a strategy that directs the viewer’s focus to costume and gesture.

History & Provenance

The print has been documented as part of early 18th‑century ukiyo‑e production, a period when the Torii workshop supplied imagery for kabuki theater. It entered the Metropolitan Museum of Art through acquisition in the early 20th century, where it remains a representative example of the school’s commercial printmaking.