Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink painting by the Baroque artist Katsushika Hokusai. It dates from 1799 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
- Accession no.
- 56.121.43
- Credit line
- Gift of Annette Young, in memory of her brother, Innis Young, 1956
About this work
Subject & Meaning
Created in 1799 by Katsushika Hokusai, this ink and color painting on paper is classified as a portrait.
Created in 1799 by Katsushika Hokusai, this ink and color painting on paper is classified as a portrait. The work depicts a single male figure, serving as the primary subject of the composition. As an untitled piece within the genre of portraiture, the image focuses on the representation of this specific man without additional narrative elements or complex iconography described in available records. The straightforward depiction emphasizes the individual subject rather than allegorical symbolism.
History & Provenance
Untitled (1799) is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. The work, created with ink and color on paper, measures 21 cm in height by 32.1 cm in width and was produced in Japan. Its accession number is not listed in the available records.
The sources do not mention any exhibition history, and no documented exhibitions of the piece are recorded. The painting’s provenance is documented only through the museum’s collection catalog.
Overview
Katsushika Hokusai's Untitled from 1799 is a painted portrait rendered in ink and color on paper. It presents a lone male figure, captured in a moment of quiet contemplation or devotion. This work showcases a more subdued approach compared to the artist's more widely recognized landscape prints, emphasizing intimate detail and a focused study of the human form.
Technique & Style
Created when Hokusai was in his seventies, this work demonstrates a refined drawing technique. Unlike his dynamic landscape prints, the artist here employs a focused, almost meditative application of ink and color. The subtle shading on the figure's face is achieved through meticulous cross-hatching, a method of building tone with intersecting lines. This technique lends a delicate sense of volume and texture without relying on broad washes of color.
Context
At the time of this painting's creation, Katsushika Hokusai had already established his reputation through numerous woodblock prints, particularly his iconic series depicting waves and mountains. This portrait, however, reveals a different facet of his artistic practice. It highlights his continued exploration of diverse subjects and techniques even in his later years, moving beyond his public persona as a printmaker to engage with the intimacy of painted portraiture.
Artist & collection
Artist
Katsushika Hokusai spent his life in Edo, now Tokyo, where he drew and carved prints for a living.
