Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by Toshi Yoshida. It dates from 1952 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1952, this untitled woodcut by Tōshi Yoshida exemplifies the sōsaku-hanga ethos of personal involvement in every stage of printmaking. The composition is dominated by stark, angular forms rendered in deep reds and dense blacks, evoking a turbulent, almost fragmented landscape. The piece is part of the Museum of Modern Art’s permanent collection.
Subject & Meaning
The image presents intersecting, jagged shapes that suggest broken timber or churning waves, generating a visual tension between order and disorder. The stark contrast of solid black areas with thin, aggressive red streaks invites viewers to contemplate the interplay of force and fragility, a theme recurrent in Yoshida’s explorations of abstract natural phenomena.
Technique & Style
Yoshida employed the traditional woodcut process, carving directly into a wooden block and applying ink by hand before pressing the surface onto paper. This hands‑on approach yields the uneven, bold edges and textured surfaces evident in the work, aligning with the sōsaku-hanga emphasis on the artist’s tactile engagement with the medium.
History & Provenance
Born into the renowned shin‑hanga lineage of Hiroshi Yoshida, Tōshi Yoshida forged his own path within the mid‑twentieth‑century Japanese print movement. After its creation, the print entered the collection of the Museum of Modern Art, where it remains accessible for study and public display, reflecting both the artist’s individual vision and the broader sōsaku-hanga tradition.
Artist & collection
Artist
Tōshi Yoshida (吉田 遠志, Yoshida Tōshi; July 25, 1911 – July 1, 1995) was a Japanese printmaking artist associated with the sōsaku-hanga movement, and was the son of shin-hanga artist Hiroshi Yoshida.
