Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an unspecified painting by the Impressionist artist Kawanabe Kyōsai 河鍋暁斎. It dates from 1878 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The subject matter draws upon traditional Japanese mythological iconography, focusing on the representation of supernatural entities.
Created in 1878 by Kawanabe Kyōsai, this work is classified within the genre of mythology and explicitly depicts a demon. The subject matter draws upon traditional Japanese mythological iconography, focusing on the representation of supernatural entities. As a painting on paper, the artwork serves as a visual exploration of these demonic figures, aligning with Kyōsai's known engagement with folkloric and mythological themes during this period.
Technique & Style
This Japanese painting is created on paper, with dimensions of 23.2 cm in height and 33.7 cm in width. The work was produced in Japan in 1878 and is housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Its subject depicts a demon within a mythological context.
The medium is recorded as painting on paper, indicating a paper support without further detail on specific pigments or technique.
History & Provenance
Kawanabe Kyōsai's untitled work on paper was created in 1878 in Japan. The painting entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is currently held. The work measures 23.2 by 33.7 cm and depicts a demon drawn from mythological subject matter.
Overview
Created in 1878 by Kawanabe Kyōsai, this untitled work is executed on paper and belongs to the ukiyo‑e tradition. It presents a crowded assembly of mythological demons rendered with vigorous, spontaneous brushwork. The piece exemplifies Kyōsai’s reputation for blending traditional technique with a personal, often humorous, sensibility.
Context
In the late nineteenth century, ukiyo‑e artists faced new artistic expectations as Japan modernized. Kyōsai’s untitled piece illustrates how an established master could adapt his practice, using familiar mythological subjects to explore contemporary themes while maintaining the formal qualities of the genre.
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".
- The Battle of Spoleto
A team of four horses drawing a chariot
Joan of Arc
Crowning the Victors at Olympia. Study for a picture in the Rooms of the Society of Arts.
Three Scenes from the Passion of Christ (recto); Architectural Sketch (verso)
Untitled
Combats and Triumphs No. 10
Study for "The Revolt of Cairo"
Untitled
Charioteers
Twenty-Four Cavaliers in Double S Formation
Running