Who painted Untitled?

Untitled was painted by Katsushika Hokusai in 1808.

Where can I see Untitled?

Untitled is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is Untitled?

Untitled is associated with Japonisme.

Artwork

Untitled

Katsushika Hokusai , 1808

Untitled is an ink print by the Japonisme artist Katsushika Hokusai. It dates from 1808 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Accession no.: JP1870
Credit line: H. O. Havemeyer Collection, Bequest of Mrs. H. O. Havemeyer, 1929

About this work

Overview

Created around 1808 by the Japanese printmaker Katsushika Hokusai, this surimono woodblock print presents a compact still‑life composition. Executed in ink and color on paper, the work is part of the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Its modest size and careful arrangement invite close inspection of the individual elements that populate the scene.

Subject & Meaning

Adjacent to the instrument, two vividly scaled fish appear to leap from a flowering branch, while a small green cloth and scattered leaves rest on the ground.

The image centers on a horizontally laid telescope, its barrel adorned with a dark, repetitive motif that suggests an antiquated design. Adjacent to the instrument, two vividly scaled fish appear to leap from a flowering branch, while a small green cloth and scattered leaves rest on the ground. Japanese poetry encircles the border, linking the visual tableau to literary expression and hinting at a contemplative moment where science, nature, and verse intersect.

Technique & Style

Produced as a surimono, the print employs the refined woodblock process reserved for privately commissioned works, allowing for intricate line work and subtle color layering. Hokusai’s hand‑carved blocks capture fine details, the telescope’s patterned surface, the delicate curvature of the fish tails, and the texture of the foliage, while the limited palette emphasizes contrast between the dark instrument and the bright, iridescent fish.

History & Provenance

The piece dates to the late Edo period, a time when surimono were often created for poetry societies and special occasions. After its creation, the print entered private collections before being acquired by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it remains on view as an example of Hokusai’s versatile output beyond his more widely known landscape series.