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)

About this work

Technique & Style

Classified as a painting depicting a man and work, the piece belongs to the genre-scene tradition, employing ink alone to render figural subject matter.

Hokusai's Untitled is executed in ink on paper, a monochrome medium characteristic of early Japanese brush painting traditions. The work takes the form of a modest-scale painting, measuring 32.7 cm in height by 25.1 cm in width, consistent with an intimate album leaf or small scroll format rather than a large hanging composition. Classified as a painting depicting a man and work, the piece belongs to the genre-scene tradition, employing ink alone to render figural subject matter.

The restricted palette places full emphasis on line, tonal modulation, and brushwork, with no indication of applied color or pigment. Produced in Japan in 1799, the work reflects the conventions of ink-based figural representation current at the turn of the nineteenth century, relying on the absorbent qualities of paper support to shape tonal range and contour.

History & Provenance

Created in Japan during 1799, the artwork Untitled was executed by the artist Katsushika Hokusai. The piece is an ink-on-paper painting classified as a genre scene, depicting a man engaged in work. While the specific commission details and initial ownership chain are not recorded in the available documentation, the work is currently held within the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

The museum houses the painting, which measures 32.7 centimeters in height and 25.1 centimeters in width. The creation is firmly dated to the year 1799, marking its inception within the late 18th-century Japanese art period.

The work is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it remains on view or in storage as part of the museum's holdings of Japanese paintings. According to the available records, the painting has been associated with the Metropolitan Museum of Art as its holding institution, with no specific accession number provided in the consulted sources. The documented inception date is 1799, and the work was produced in Japan using ink on paper.

No detailed exhibition history is recorded in the available sources, and no prior ownership or loan history beyond its current placement at the Metropolitan Museum of Art is documented.

Overview

Katsushika Hokusai's Untitled, created in 1799, is an ink drawing on paper that captures a moment of everyday labor. This genre scene exemplifies the artist's interest in the unadorned activities of common people. The work, rendered with directness, offers a glimpse into domestic life at the turn of the 19th century.

Subject & Meaning

The drawing portrays a man engaged in the strenuous task of scrubbing clothes in a wooden tub. His back is turned to the viewer, emphasizing the physical exertion through his rolled-up sleeves and the visible tension in his shoulders. This depiction of an ordinary individual performing manual work highlights Hokusai's attention to the realities of daily life, moving beyond idealized or grand subjects.

Context

This Untitled sketch represents a shift in Hokusai's artistic focus during his later career. While he is widely recognized for his iconic landscapes and dramatic natural scenes, this work illustrates his increasing engagement with the quiet dignity of everyday labor. It reflects a period when the artist turned his keen observational skills toward the uncelebrated activities of ordinary individuals, providing a different perspective on his extensive oeuvre.