Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a watercolor painting. It dates from 1834 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Created in 1834, this unmounted watercolor presents a delicate still life typical of the Hokusai School.
- Accession no.
- 38.106.12
- Credit line
- Fletcher Fund, 1938
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The artwork, created by the Hokusai School in 1834, is classified as a still life that depicts a flower. As a watercolor painting on paper, the work focuses its iconography entirely on this botanical subject. The representation of the flower serves as the central visual element, defining the piece's meaning within the context of Japanese floral art from the period.
Technique & Style
The work is an unmounted watercolor on paper, produced in 1834 in Japan and currently held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
The work is an unmounted watercolor on paper, produced in 1834 in Japan and currently held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Executed in the Hokusai School tradition, it belongs to the still‑life genre and portrays a single flower. The support is paper, with the medium specified as watercolor, and the composition is flattened and outlined characteristic of Japanese wood‑block influenced painting of the period. Dimensions measure 23.8 cm by 31.1 cm, reflecting a modest scale typical of intimate studies.
History & Provenance
The work is dated 1834 and was produced in Japan by the Hokusai School, executed as a watercolor on paper. It is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is classified as a painting and unmounted. No further details on commission, ownership chain prior to the museum, or intermediate provenance are documented in the available sources.
Overview
Created in 1834, this unmounted watercolor presents a delicate still life typical of the Hokusai School. An anonymous hand from Katsushika Hokusai’s workshop rendered a branch of pink peonies against a muted gray background, capturing a fleeting garden moment with subtle detail and a sense of immediacy.
Context
During the early nineteenth century, Japanese artists increasingly explored realistic depictions of everyday nature, moving beyond stylized patterns. This watercolor aligns with that trend, illustrating how the Hokusai School integrated observational study into traditional ink and color practices, bridging decorative art and naturalist observation.
Artist & collection
