Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a paint painting by the Baroque artist Hishikawa Moronobu. It dates from 1656 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The iconography centers on the figure’s posture and attire, which convey the stylized movements and costume associated with early Edo-period dance performance.
The hanging scroll depicts a female dancer as its central subject, rendered in color on paper and mounted in the traditional format. The iconography centers on the figure’s posture and attire, which convey the stylized movements and costume associated with early Edo-period dance performance. The emphasis on the dancer’s presence and gesture suggests a focus on the elegance and cultural role of women in seventeenth-century Japanese entertainment contexts.
The work’s title being left untitled leaves the specific narrative or identity of the figure open, directing attention to the type rather than an individual portrait.
Technique & Style
Created in 1656, this work by Hishikawa Moronobu is executed as a hanging scroll featuring color on paper. The painting portrays a female dancer, rendered with the specific medium and support characteristic of Japanese portrait painting from the period. The physical dimensions of the scroll measure 78.1 cm in height and 41.9 cm in width. Originating from Japan, the piece is classified within the genre of portraiture.
History & Provenance
Created in 1656 by the Japanese artist Hishikawa Moronobu, this hanging scroll depicts a female dancer. The work was executed in color on paper within Japan. It currently resides in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, which lists the piece's inception year as 1656.
The painting Untitled by Hishikawa Moronobu is housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, where it is listed as part of the museum’s collection. The work is recorded as a hanging scroll dated 1656, measuring 78.1 cm in height and 41.9 cm in width, and is attributed to the Japanese artist Hishikawa Moronobu. The museum’s catalog does not publish an explicit accession or inventory number for this piece, leaving such identifiers unspecified in the available documentation. No exhibition history is documented in the sources consulted.
Overview
This untitled hanging scroll, created by Hishikawa Moronobu in 1656, features a solitary female figure. Rendered with color on paper, the painting depicts a dancer dressed in a vibrant kimono, positioned beside a banana plant. The artwork exemplifies Moronobu's early contributions to ukiyo-e, characterized by a serene composition and a meticulous approach to form.
Context
Hishikawa Moronobu, active during the 17th century, was instrumental in the development and popularization of ukiyo-e, a genre often depicting scenes from the "floating world." While much of his output captured various aspects of daily existence, his works consistently exhibited a refined aesthetic. This particular piece, with its tranquil subject and precise execution, reflects his characteristic careful style within the nascent ukiyo-e movement.
Artist & collection
