Untitled
1722
ink
paper
From the collection of Metropolitan Museum of Art
1722
ink
paper
From the collection of Metropolitan Museum of Art
Untitled is a 1722 ink by Nishimura Shigenaga, a Baroque work, held at Metropolitan Museum of Art.
This print shows a wild scene with a man riding a giant, horned creature. Above them, a dragon-like figure spits fire into a pot held by the rider. The background has slashing rain and bare trees, while the man’s face looks pained or determined. The colors are bold—reds, blacks, and yellows—with lots of ink lines. The artist used quick, dramatic strokes to show movement, almost like the scene is in motion. The way the fire and rain are drawn makes it feel chaotic. Look up cross-hatching to see how artists build texture with lines.
Nishimura Shigenaga spent his life in Edo, a city now called Tokyo, where he carved and printed pictures for a living.
See the richer artist page
