Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink painting by the Romanticist artist Tsukioka Sessai. It dates from 1819 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Technique & Style
Created in 1819, this work by Tsukioka Sessai is a framed portrait executed in ink and color on a silk support. The painting measures 90.8 cm in height and 68.6 cm in width. As a genre portrait, the piece depicts a woman, utilizing traditional Japanese materials and techniques characteristic of the period. The artwork is currently held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
History & Provenance
The work was created in Japan in 1819 by Tsukioka Sessai as a framed painting in ink and color on silk, depicting a woman.
Its later history is documented within the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is currently located. The painting measures 90.8 cm in height and 68.6 cm in width.
Context
6 cm, the piece exemplifies the scale typical of portrait paintings of the period.
The work Untitled by Tsukioka Sessai, created in 1819, is a framed ink and color painting on silk that depicts a woman and is classified as a portrait within the broader corpus of Japanese paintings. Measured at 90.8 cm by 68.6 cm, the piece exemplifies the scale typical of portrait paintings of the period. Its inclusion in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection and detailed cataloguing reflect scholarly attention to early nineteenth‑century Japanese portraiture, positioning the artwork as a representative example of the genre.
Overview
This untitled work by Tsukioka Sessai, created in 1819, is an ink and color painting on silk. It presents a portrait of a woman, notable for its subtle integration of diverse artistic traditions. The artist combined characteristic Japanese ink techniques with elements of European shading, an uncommon approach for the period. This fusion results in a distinctive visual character that reflects a quiet innovation within portraiture.
Subject & Meaning
The painting features a woman seated on the floor, dressed in a red robe and holding a fan. Her hair is styled in a loose knot, and her gaze is directed away from the viewer, suggesting a moment of quiet contemplation rather than a formal pose. This informal depiction, emphasizing everyday attire and a natural posture, lends the portrait an intimate and unposed quality, capturing a personal moment.
Artist & collection
