Who painted Untitled?

Untitled was painted by Katsushika Hokusai in 18th–19th century.

Where can I see Untitled?

Untitled is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is Untitled?

Untitled is associated with Baroque.

Untitled by Katsushika Hokusai (18th–19th century)

Accession no.: 56.121.26
Credit line: Gift of Annette Young, in memory of her brother, Innis Young, 1956

About this work

Subject & Meaning

Its subject draws on Buddhist iconography, presenting a divine figure that embodies spiritual concepts central to the mythological narratives Hokusai explored.

The work titled Untitled (1799) is an ink drawing on paper by Katsushika Hokusai, classified within the mythology genre and depicted as a Buddhist deity. Created in Japan, the piece entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it remains on display. Its subject draws on Buddhist iconography, presenting a divine figure that embodies spiritual concepts central to the mythological narratives Hokusai explored.

By rendering a deity in a mythological framework, the drawing reflects the artist’s interest in transcendent subjects and the symbolic language of Buddhism during the late Edo period.

Technique & Style

Created in 1799, this work by Katsushika Hokusai is executed in ink on paper, a traditional medium for Japanese painting. The support measures 31.3 cm in height and 23.3 cm in width, forming a compact vertical format typical of the artist's single-sheet prints and paintings. Stylistically, the piece engages with mythological and Buddhist themes, depicting a deity through the fluid, controlled application of ink characteristic of Hokusai's early career.

The handling of the medium emphasizes line and form to convey the spiritual subject matter, reflecting the conventions of Japanese religious art from the Edo period. The work is currently held within the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where its physical condition allows for the study of its monochromatic technique and formal composition.

History & Provenance

Created in 1799 by the Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai, this ink-on-paper work titled Untitled was produced in Japan. The piece, which depicts Buddhist deities and mythological themes, currently resides in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. While the specific circumstances of its commission and the detailed chain of ownership prior to its museum acquisition are not outlined in the available records, the work's inception is firmly dated to the turn of the nineteenth century. It is classified as a painting within the museum's holdings, measuring approximately 31.3 by 23.3 units.

The untitled painting by Katsushika Hokusai, created in 1799, is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. The work, which depicts Buddhist deities and mythology, measures 31.3 cm in height and 23.3 cm in width. While the sources confirm the artwork's location within the museum and its creation date, they do not provide a specific inventory or accession number for the piece.

Furthermore, the available documentation does not list any exhibition history for this specific work, focusing instead on its physical attributes, medium of ink on paper, and its classification as a painting from Japan.

Overview

This untitled ink drawing on paper by Hokusai captures a dynamic, multi-limbed deity. Executed with rapid strokes, the work appears to be a preparatory study rather than a finished piece. Its spontaneous quality offers insight into the artist's creative process, revealing the raw energy of his initial ideas. The rough, yet expressive, lines convey a sense of motion and vitality, characteristic of a preliminary sketch.