Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink painting 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
Subject & Meaning
Created in 1804 by Katsushika Hokusai, this ink and color painting on paper presents a genre scene featuring two primary subjects: a man and an insect.
Created in 1804 by Katsushika Hokusai, this ink and color painting on paper presents a genre scene featuring two primary subjects: a man and an insect. The work's iconography is defined by the direct depiction of these figures, classifying it within the genre scene tradition. While the specific interaction between the human figure and the insect is not detailed in the available records, the juxtaposition suggests a focus on natural observation or a moment of everyday life, characteristic of Hokusai's broader artistic interests.
The piece serves as a representation of these specific elements without additional allegorical layers explicitly documented in the source material.
Technique & Style
Created in 1804 by Katsushika Hokusai, this work is executed in ink and color on paper. The piece functions as a painting classified within the genre scene category, depicting a man alongside an insect. Physically, the artwork measures 24.4 centimeters in height and 31.4 centimeters in width.
It originated in Japan and is currently held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The medium combines traditional ink application with colored pigments on a paper support, characteristic of Hokusai's practice during this period.
History & Provenance
Untitled was created by the Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai in 1804. Executed in ink and color on paper, the piece measures 24.4 by 31.4 centimeters and originated in Japan. The work depicts a man alongside an insect, categorizing it within the genre scene tradition.
It is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The circumstances of its acquisition, any accession number, and exhibition history are not specified in the available sources.
Context
Untitled (1804) is an ink and color on paper painting by Katsushika Hokusai, created in Japan and now held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Measuring 24.4 × 31.4 cm, it portrays an insect together with a man, fitting within the genre-scene category documented in its classification. The piece belongs to Hokusai's broader body of work, in which the observation of everyday subjects and the natural world is a recurring concern, contributing to the development of genre scenes in early nineteenth-century Japanese painting.
Overview
Untitled is a painting by Katsushika Hokusai, created in 1804, rendered with ink and color on paper. This genre scene captures a moment of everyday observation, focusing on a man interacting with a small creature. The artist's attention to detail is evident in the delicate portrayal of both the human figure and the insect, characteristic of his broader body of work.
Artist & collection
Artist
Katsushika Hokusai spent his life in Edo, now Tokyo, where he drew and carved prints for a living.
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