Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink painting by the Impressionist artist Kawanabe Kyōsai 河鍋暁斎. It dates from 1887 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
- Accession no.
- 14.76.61.20
- Credit line
- Charles Stewart Smith Collection, Gift of Mrs. Charles Stewart Smith, Charles Stewart Smith Jr., and Howard Caswell Smith, in memory of Charles Stewart Smith, 1914
About this work
Subject & Meaning
Created in 1887, this album leaf by Kawanabe Kyōsai depicts a cat and a frog interacting within a single scene, rendered in ink and color on silk.
Created in 1887, this album leaf by Kawanabe Kyōsai depicts a cat and a frog interacting within a single scene, rendered in ink and color on silk. The work pairs two animals frequently used in Japanese painting for their expressive and sometimes humorous contrast. While the specific narrative intent is not recorded, the juxtaposition of these creatures is consistent with the playful, observational manner for which Kyōsai is known.
Technique & Style
Executed in 1887, this album leaf uses ink and color applied to a silk support. The work measures 35.9 cm in height and 27 cm in width. It depicts a cat and a frog as its primary subjects and originates from Japan.
The piece is classified as a painting and reflects Kyōsai's command of fluid brushwork in a small, intimate format.
History & Provenance
This 1887 album leaf by Kawanabe Kyōsai is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. The work, executed in ink and color on silk, measures 35.9 cm in height and 27 cm in width, and depicts a cat and a frog. Specific accession details and earlier ownership history are not recorded in the available documentation.
Overview
Kawanabe Kyōsai created this untitled album leaf around 1887, employing ink and color on silk. The work features a dynamic interaction between a cat and a frog, rendered with the artist's characteristic individualistic approach. It belongs to the nihonga movement, a period of renewed interest in traditional Japanese painting techniques, and exemplifies Kyōsai's playful allegorical style.
Context
Kawanabe Kyōsai was active during the transitional late Edo and early Meiji periods, a time of significant cultural change in Japan. He was a prominent figure within the nihonga movement, which sought to revitalize traditional Japanese painting. Art historian Timothy Clark has recognized Kyōsai as "the last virtuoso in traditional Japanese painting," underscoring his unique skill and individualistic approach during this era.
Artist & collection
Artist
Kawanabe Kyōsai (河鍋 暁斎; May 18, 1831 – April 26, 1889) was a Japanese painter and caricaturist. In the words of art historian Timothy Clark, "an individualist and an independent, perhaps the last virtuoso in traditional Japanese painting".
