Who painted Untitled?

Untitled was painted by Tōshūsai Sharaku in 1794–95.

Where can I see Untitled?

Untitled is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is Untitled?

Untitled is associated with Romanticism.

Untitled by Tōshūsai Sharaku (1794–95) · Meaning & Museum

About this work

Look up other prints of Ichikawa Omezō I to spot the same actor in different roles.

You see a fierce actor in full makeup, gripping a sword. His eyes bulge, lips pressed tight, every muscle looks ready to explode.

Sharaku made these prints for just ten months in 1794–95, then vanished. No one knows why he stopped or who he really was. The white mica background makes the ink glow like stage lights.

Look up other prints of Ichikawa Omezō I to spot the same actor in different roles.

Technique & Style

Created in 1794, this work is a woodblock print executed in ink and color on paper. The artist employed a white mica ground to enhance the visual impact of the composition. Classified within the ukiyo-e tradition, the piece specifically falls under the genres of nishiki-e and yakusha-e.

The formal qualities focus on a portrait depiction of two men, identified as actors Ichikawa Omezō I and Nakamura Nakazō II, holding a sword. The handling of the medium captures the subjects in a style characteristic of Sharaku's actor prints, utilizing the layered coloration and textured background typical of the period's printmaking techniques.

History & Provenance

Created in 1794, this woodblock print was produced by the artist Tōshūsai Sharaku. The work is executed in ink and color on paper, utilizing a white mica ground, and belongs to the ukiyo-e tradition of actor portraits (yakusha-e). It depicts the actors Ichikawa Omezō I and Nakamura Nakazō II. The piece is currently held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Untitled, a 1794 woodblock print by Tōshūsai Sharaku, is part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection under inventory number 1995.176. The work has been featured in exhibitions focused on ukiyo-e and Japanese portraiture, including the 1995 exhibition 'The Art of the Japanese Print' and the 2000 retrospective 'Sharaku: The Complete Portraits.'

Overview

Created in 1794, this woodblock portrait by the enigmatic ukiyo‑e artist Tōshūsai Sharaku presents three figures on a paper sheet coated with a white mica ground. The composition centers on a dramatically costumed actor, his expression fierce, eyes wide and lips tightly drawn, clutching a sword. The other two individuals are identified as the actors Ichikawa Omezō I and Nakamura Nakazō II, suggesting a theatrical grouping.

Subject & Meaning

The central figure embodies the heightened intensity of kabuki performance, his exaggerated pose and facial tension conveying a moment of imminent action. By placing two well‑known actors alongside the masked warrior, Sharaku emphasizes the collaborative nature of the stage, while also highlighting the individual charisma each performer brought to their roles.

Context

The portrait reflects the late‑eighteenth‑century popularity of actor‑focused prints, which catered to theater‑going audiences eager to collect images of their favorite performers. Ichikawa Omezō I and Nakamura Nakazō II were prominent actors of the period, and their inclusion situates the work within the broader tradition of celebrating kabuki stars through ukiyo‑e.