Untitled
1660
ink
From the collection of Metropolitan Museum of Art
1660
ink
From the collection of Metropolitan Museum of Art
Dominant colour
Untitled is a 1660 ink by Hishikawa Moronobu 菱川師宣, a Baroque work, depicting hair, held at Metropolitan Museum of Art.
This print shows two women indoors. One sits on the floor holding a fan, while the other kneels behind her, brushing her hair. The room has simple furniture: a low table with teacups and a hanging lamp. The women wear loose robes with flower patterns, and the walls have sliding panels with bamboo and writing on them. The artist used bold black lines to create shapes, leaving the paper white for contrast. This style makes the scene feel lively and clear. The print looks like it might be from a time when woodblock prints were common in Japan. Look up cross-hatching to see how artists use lines to add depth.
