Untitled
1790
ink
From the collection of Metropolitan Museum of Art
1790
ink
From the collection of Metropolitan Museum of Art
Untitled is a 1790 ink by Ippitsusai Bunchō, a Romanticism work, depicting actor, held at Metropolitan Museum of Art.
This print shows a man in a bright yellow robe and a woven straw hat. He holds a fan in one hand and a long tool—maybe a rake or a staff—resting on his shoulder. His pants have bold red and black patterns, and he wears sandals. Behind him, a tree with long, drooping branches frames the scene, while the ground looks like a mix of grass and clouds. The artist used simple lines and flat colors, but the details in his robe and hat show careful work. The fan and tool suggest he might be a traveler or a performer. Look up actor next to see how figures like this one were used in Japanese theater.
