Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Utagawa Hiroshige. It dates from 1836 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Utagawa Hiroshige, a prominent ukiyo-e artist of the late Edo period, created this untitled woodblock print circa 1836, utilizing ink and color on paper. Characteristic of his oeuvre, the work emphasizes natural scenery.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts a grouping of tall green plants with clusters of tiny white flowers, punctuated by a singular, vibrant red bloom amidst dark green foliage. The composition's simplicity and the bold, contrasting red flower suggest a deliberate emphasis on the beauty of isolated natural details.
Technique & Style
Hiroshige employed simple, yet meticulous lines to render each leaf and flower, set against a plain, light background that allows the botanical subjects to dominate the space. This approach reflects his mastery of balancing detail with compositional restraint.
History & Provenance
This print is part of Hiroshige's extensive landscape-focused body of work, which includes renowned series like *The Fifty-three Stations of the Tōkaidō* and *One Hundred Famous Views of Edo*. The exact provenance of this untitled piece is not specified.
Context
Created around 1836, the print exemplifies Hiroshige's divergence from the typical ukiyo-e concentration on urban themes, aligning instead with his preference for capturing Japan's natural and travel-related subjects.
Artist & collection
Artist
Utagawa Hiroshige (歌川 広重) or Andō Hiroshige (安藤 広重), born Andō Tokutarō (安藤 徳太郎; 1797 – 12 October 1858), was a Japanese ukiyo-e artist, considered the last great master of that tradition.
