Who painted Untitled?

Untitled was painted by Katsushika Hokusai in dated 1780.

Where can I see Untitled?

Untitled is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is Untitled?

Untitled is associated with Japonisme.

Artwork

Untitled

Katsushika Hokusai , 1780

Untitled is an ink painting by the Japonisme artist Katsushika Hokusai. It dates from 1780 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

These elements together depict a typical Edo-era household and commercial space, suggesting a narrative of everyday activity and social interaction.

The painting presents a crowded interior scene that includes a dog, an infant, a man, a shop, and a woman, all rendered in ink and color on silk. These elements together depict a typical Edo-era household and commercial space, suggesting a narrative of everyday activity and social interaction. The presence of a shop alongside family members may symbolize the integration of work and domestic life, while the infant and dog add a domestic, nurturing dimension.

By arranging multiple figures within a single hanging scroll, Hokusai creates a microcosm of urban life in late 18th-century Japan.

Technique & Style

The work is executed as a hanging scroll, employing ink and polychrome pigments on silk as its support, which situates it within the traditional ukiyo‑e painting practice of the period. Its medium, ink with color on silk, defines both the material handling and the visual texture, while the subject matter functions as a genre scene that incorporates a dog, infant, man, shop, and woman. The composition reflects the stylistic conventions of Japanese scroll painting, emphasizing narrative detail and flattened spatial depth characteristic of the genre.

The painting is part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art collection and was created in Japan in 1780.

History & Provenance

The hanging scroll was created by Katsushika Hokusai in 1780, executed in ink and color on silk in Japan. It depicts a genre scene featuring a man, woman, infant, dog, and shop setting. The work is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

The museum's records confirm its location within the painting holdings, but specific inventory or accession numbers are not provided in the available documentation, nor are details regarding its exhibition or loan history.

Overview

This untitled hanging scroll, executed in ink and color on silk, offers an early glimpse into the artistic development of Hokusai. Created when the artist was approximately 20 years old, it predates the celebrated landscape prints for which he would later become renowned. The work captures a vibrant street scene, showcasing his nascent ability to depict daily life with intricate detail and a sense of immediacy.