Who painted Untitled?

Untitled was painted by Utagawa Toyokuni I in 1798.

Where can I see Untitled?

Untitled is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is Untitled?

Untitled is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

Untitled

Utagawa Toyokuni I , 1798

Untitled is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Utagawa Toyokuni I. It dates from 1798 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

Created around 1798 by the ukiyo-e master Utagawa Toyokuni I, this woodblock print presents a lively everyday moment. Executed with ink and color on paper, the work belongs to the genre scene tradition and is part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection.

Subject & Meaning

The composition centers on two women dressed in vivid kimonos, one kneeling with a woven basket and the other adjusting a sleeve. Their neatly arranged hair beneath black hats and the floral motifs on their garments convey a sense of refined domestic activity, set against a tranquil harbor that hints at a broader social context.

Technique & Style

Toyokuni employs bold, saturated pigments and clear, uncomplicated forms to draw immediate attention to the figures. The background vessels are rendered with swift, precise lines, while subtle cross‑hatching builds shadow on the women's clothing, demonstrating the artist’s skill in balancing detail with overall visual clarity.

History & Provenance

The print, dated to the late 1790s, reflects the flourishing ukiyo-e market of Edo‑period Japan. It entered the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s holdings through acquisition, where it remains an example of Toyokuni’s prolific output in the genre scene category.