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Tatohe uta|Analogy

Katsukawa Shunshō

1783

ink

paper

From the collection of Metropolitan Museum of Art

Romanticism 18th Century Shell Tray

Dominant colour

Tatohe uta|Analogy is a 1783 ink by Katsukawa Shunshō, a Romanticism work, depicting Shell, held at Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Who painted this?: Katsukawa Shunshō
When & what style?: 1783 · Romanticism
Where can I see it?: Metropolitan Museum of Art

About this work

This print shows two women in a room. One stands near a door, dressed in a long, patterned robe with flowers and leaves. The other kneels on a tatami mat, looking at a wooden tray with a grid—maybe a game board. Behind them, a screen shows a bowl of fruit and a window with light streaming in. The standing woman’s robe has a mix of soft grays and bright red accents. The kneeling woman’s outfit is simpler, with earthy tones. The room looks calm, like a quiet moment in daily life. Next, check out the technique: cross-hatching to see how artists create depth with lines.