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-on-paper work is classified as a still life.
Created in 1804 by Katsushika Hokusai, this ink-on-paper work is classified as a still life. The composition focuses exclusively on vegetables as its primary subject matter. While the specific species of produce are not detailed in available records, the depiction aligns with the genre's traditional emphasis on observing natural forms and everyday objects.
The work represents a focused study of organic shapes and textures through the medium of ink, characteristic of Hokusai's broader exploration of diverse subjects beyond his famous landscape prints.
Technique & Style
Executed in ink on paper, the work is a small-scale still life measuring 24.4 cm in height by 33.3 cm in width. The horizontal format and modest dimensions are consistent with a preparatory or sketch-like handling of the medium, suited to the spare, monochromatic vocabulary of ink painting. The subject matter, vegetables, is rendered in a restrained, graphic style characteristic of early nineteenth-century Japanese ink practice, in which tonal modulation and calligraphic brushwork carry the descriptive content without recourse to color.
The work is held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where its paper support is preserved as part of the institution's collection.
History & Provenance
The ink work titled Untitled by Katsushika Hokusai was created in Japan in 1804. Classified as a still life, it depicts vegetables and is executed on paper, measuring 24.4 cm in height by 33.3 cm in width. It is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.
Specific details regarding the original commission, the initial patron, the precise chain of ownership, an accession number, or any exhibition history are not provided in the available records.
Overview
Untitled is an ink-on-paper sketch by Katsushika Hokusai, depicting a single radish. Created late in his career, when he was in his eighties, this still life exemplifies his ability to imbue everyday objects with vitality through minimalist means. It belongs to a series of instructional drawings, reflecting Hokusai's pedagogical approach to art.
Context
This sketch is part of Hokusai's educational series, "Quick Lessons in Simplified Drawing," which he developed in his later years. His aim was to make drawing accessible to a broader audience, illustrating how anyone could depict various subjects, regardless of complexity, by mastering fundamental lines and forms. The radish served as a practical example for these lessons.
Artist & collection
Artist
Katsushika Hokusai spent his life in Edo, now Tokyo, where he drew and carved prints for a living.
