Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by the Baroque artist Uchimasa. It dates from 1742 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
This woodblock print, executed in 1742 by the Japanese artist Uchimasa, depicts a tranquil scene featuring two women in traditional attire. The composition is rendered in ink and color on paper, with a muted brown background and subtle vegetation. The work is part of the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.
Subject & Meaning
The foreground shows a woman seated in a small red boat, dressed in a gray kimono and gazing upward. Behind her, a second figure in a vivid red kimono stands, hair tied in a bun, holding a long pole in one hand and a fan in the other. The interaction suggests a moment of quiet observation, evoking themes of leisure and companionship.
Technique & Style
Created with traditional woodblock printing methods, the image combines black ink outlines with applied color pigments. The delicate carving allows for fine details in the kimono patterns and the foliage, while the flat areas of color produce a calm, atmospheric effect characteristic of Edo‑period prints.
History & Provenance
Uchimasa, an active printmaker of the mid‑18th century, produced this work during the Edo period, a time when woodblock prints were widely circulated. The piece entered the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection through acquisition in the early 20th century, where it remains on display as an example of period genre printing.
Artist & collection
Artist
Uchimasa made single-sheet woodblock prints in ink and delicate color. In *Untitled*, a willow’s branches dip over a quiet river, its reflection mirrored in still water. The palette stays muted except for a single red…
