Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by the Japonisme artist Katsushika Hokusai. It dates from 1804 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created around 1804, this woodblock print by Katsushika Hokusai is a small-format surimono that depicts a stylized still life. The composition is framed by a thin yellow border and filled with muted beige and brown tones, punctuated by vivid green leaves and white blossoms. The work is part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection.
Subject & Meaning
The image presents a simplified arrangement of foliage and flowers, with a broad yellow band across the upper portion and a cluster of green leaves and white blossoms at the lower edge. The abstraction of natural elements reflects the Edo‑period interest in decorative patterning rather than literal representation, inviting viewers to appreciate color contrast and surface design.
Technique & Style
The fine carving and careful registration typical of private commission prints are evident in the crisp borders and balanced composition.
Executed as a surimono, the print combines ink outlines with multiple color washes applied to high-quality paper. Hokusai employed a range of pigments to achieve the beige‑brown background, the bright yellow stripe, and the delicate greens and whites of the botanical motifs. The fine carving and careful registration typical of private commission prints are evident in the crisp borders and balanced composition.
History & Provenance
The piece was produced in the early nineteenth century, likely for a limited‑edition poetry or literary book, as was common for surimono. It entered the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection through a 20th‑century acquisition, where it is displayed as an example of Hokusai’s work beyond his more widely known landscape prints.
Artist & collection
Artist
Katsushika Hokusai spent his life in Edo, now Tokyo, where he drew and carved prints for a living.
