Artwork

Untitled

Untitled, by Katsukawa Shunshō, ink, 1759
Untitled, by Katsukawa Shunshō, ink, 1759

Untitled is an ink painting by the Baroque artist Katsukawa Shunshō. It dates from 1759 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

Created by Katsukawa Shunshō in 1759, the painting presents a single female figure as its central subject.

The work depicts a woman, identified in the genre classification as a portrait. Created by Katsukawa Shunshō in 1759, the painting presents a single female figure as its central subject. As a portrait executed in ink and color on silk, the piece focuses on the representation of this individual rather than a complex narrative scene or allegorical symbolism.

The specific iconographic details or deeper symbolic meanings associated with the figure are not detailed in the available records, leaving the work's primary significance rooted in its function as a direct likeness of a woman.

Technique & Style

Created in 1759 by Katsukawa Shunshō, this work is a hanging scroll executed with ink and color on a silk support. The painting measures 72.4 cm in height and 31.8 cm in width. Stylistically, the piece functions as a portrait depicting a single female figure, adhering to the conventions of Japanese portraiture from the period.

History & Provenance

Untitled is a 1759 hanging scroll by Katsukawa Shunshō executed in ink and color on silk. The portrait depicts a woman and measures 72.4 cm by 31.8 cm. It was produced in Japan and entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it remains on view. The work is catalogued as a painting in the museum's records, with its creation date recorded as 1759.

No documentation of a specific commission or subsequent ownership before museum acquisition is provided in the available sources.

Overview

Created in 1759, this hanging scroll by Katsukawa Shunshō presents a solitary female figure rendered in ink and color on silk. The composition is intimate, showing the woman in a vivid red robe leaning against a bamboo fence, her face partially concealed by a handheld fan. Cherry blossoms drift through the scene, adding a fleeting sense of seasonal atmosphere.

Beauty (Bijin)
Beauty (Bijin), Katsushika Hokusai

Artist & collection

Portrait of Katsukawa Shunshō

Artist

Katsukawa Shunshō

Katsukawa Shunshō spent his life in Edo (now Tokyo), where the city’s teahouses and theaters buzzed with energy.

Frequently asked questions

Who painted Untitled?

Untitled was painted by Katsukawa Shunshō in 18th century.

Where can I see Untitled?

Untitled is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is Untitled?

Untitled is associated with Baroque.