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.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
Created in 1799 by Katsushika Hokusai, this ink-on-paper work functions as a genre scene centered on domestic intimacy.
Created in 1799 by Katsushika Hokusai, this ink-on-paper work functions as a genre scene centered on domestic intimacy. The composition explicitly depicts a mother interacting with an infant or young child, focusing on the human figure rather than landscape or supernatural elements typical of the artist's broader oeuvre. While specific symbolic interpretations are not detailed in the available records, the subject matter represents a slice of daily life, highlighting the bond between parent and offspring.
The classification as a genre scene underscores the work's intent to capture an ordinary, candid moment of caregiving and familial connection within late eighteenth-century Japan, elevating a private interaction into a formal artistic subject.
Technique & Style
The work Untitled, produced by Katsushika Hokusai in 1799, is executed in ink on paper, a support typical of Japanese draftsmanship of the period. Its modest dimensions measure 41.3 cm in height by 26.4 cm in width, reflecting a small‑scale sheet intended for intimate viewing. The drawing portrays a child, an infant and a mother in a single composition, classifying it as a genre scene within the broader category of paintings.
As a work on paper, it requires careful handling to preserve the fragile ink lines, and its present condition is maintained in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection, where it is displayed under controlled environmental conditions.
History & Provenance
Created in 1799 in Japan, this ink-on-paper work by Katsushika Hokusai depicts a mother with an infant or child. The piece, classified as a genre scene, entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it remains housed. While the specific circumstances of its commission and the detailed chain of ownership prior to its museum acquisition are not provided in the available records, the work's inception is firmly dated to the turn of the nineteenth century.
The work is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is part of the museum's holdings of paintings. According to the available records, the piece is located at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and was created in Japan in 1799. The documented dimensions are 41.3 cm in height and 26.4 cm in width.
No specific accession number, inventory designation, or exhibition history is recorded in the available sources for this work.
Overview
Katsushika Hokusai's Untitled, created in 1799, is an ink-on-paper drawing capturing a domestic moment. This genre scene presents a mother with her children, rendered with the artist's characteristic fluid hand. The work offers a glimpse into everyday life, focusing on the intimate interactions within a family setting, a common theme in Hokusai's extensive oeuvre.
Context
Hokusai produced this drawing during his seventies, a period of continued prolific artistic activity. Even in his later years, the artist maintained a rigorous daily practice of sketching, constantly honing his observational skills and draughtsmanship. Works like Untitled exemplify this ongoing dedication, revealing his sustained interest in depicting the nuances of human experience through direct and spontaneous drawing.
Artist & collection
Artist
Katsushika Hokusai spent his life in Edo, now Tokyo, where he drew and carved prints for a living.
