Who painted Untitled?

Untitled was painted by Kitagawa Utamaro in 1789.

Where can I see Untitled?

Untitled is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is Untitled?

Untitled is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

Untitled

Kitagawa Utamaro , 1789

Untitled is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Kitagawa Utamaro. It dates from 1789 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1789, this woodblock print by Kitagawa Utamaro—simply titled Untitled—depicts a bustling street tableau. The work is executed in ink and color on paper and is part of the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Subject & Meaning

The scene centers on an oversized dog, comically large, bearing a passenger on its back as it barrels through a crowded thoroughfare. Spectators in vivid garments either flee, pause to watch from a balcony, or observe from a distance, while a musician provides a background soundtrack, suggesting a moment of unexpected amusement or surprise.

Technique & Style

Utamaro employs the characteristic ukiyo-e approach of strong, clean outlines and flat, saturated color fields. The composition is organized by natural elements—a bridge and trees—that frame the chaotic action, while the woodblock method allows for precise detail in the figures’ clothing and the exaggerated anatomy of the dog.

History & Provenance

The print was produced during the late eighteenth‑century Edo period, a time when genre scenes flourished in Japanese popular art. It entered the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection through acquisition, where it remains on display as an example of Utamaro’s playful narrative style.