Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink painting. It dates from 1642 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The object is a 56‑page printed volume dating from 1642, containing Japanese text rendered in black ink on light‑coloured paper.
About this work
This page shows Japanese text printed in black ink on light paper. The edges are slightly worn, and the paper has a creased look. On the right side, there’s a small signature in black ink.
This is part of a 56-page book from 1642. The text is packed tightly, with lines running horizontally across the page.
Next, look up Baroque to see how this style shaped other art.
Technique & Style
The medium consists of ink applied to paper, presenting the narrative of a specific tale rather than a traditional pictorial canvas.
Created in 1642, this work by an anonymous Japanese artist is classified as a painting but is technically executed as a printed book containing 56 pages of text. The medium consists of ink applied to paper, presenting the narrative of a specific tale rather than a traditional pictorial canvas. The physical object measures 26.7 cm in height and 18.1 cm in width.
Despite its classification within painting collections, the piece functions as a printed literary artifact, relying on typographic or calligraphic ink application on paper support rather than brushwork on a rigid surface.
History & Provenance
Created in 1642 in Japan, this work is attributed to an anonymous painter. The piece is currently held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. While one internal record describes the object as a 56-page printed book containing ink on paper, authoritative data classifies it as a painting with dimensions of 26.7 by 18.1 units.
No specific details regarding the work's commission, original ownership, or subsequent provenance chain prior to its museum acquisition are provided in the available records.
Untitled is held in the Metropolitan Museum of Art collection. Its inventory number is not specified in the provided sources. The work was exhibited in the exhibition 'Unknown Masters: Japanese Paintings from the 17th Century' at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 2018.
The painting is classified as a 17th-century Japanese ink painting on paper, depicting an anonymous narrative scene. It measures 26.7 cm in height and 18.1 cm in width. The work was created in Japan in 1642 and is part of the museum's permanent collection of Asian art.
The painting was included in the 2018 exhibition 'Unknown Masters: Japanese Paintings from the 17th Century' at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, which focused on anonymous works from the Edo period.
Overview
The object is a 56‑page printed volume dating from 1642, containing Japanese text rendered in black ink on light‑coloured paper. Each page is densely filled with horizontal lines of script, and the edges show signs of wear and slight creasing. A modest black‑ink signature appears on the right side of the page.
Context
The book reflects the broader Edo‑period emphasis on disseminating literary works to a growing literate public. Its compact format and dense layout align with contemporary practices for distributing narratives, poetry, or instructional texts, illustrating how printed media complemented visual arts of the era.
Artist & collection
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Untitled
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Untitled
Album of Calligraphy and Paintings
Untitled
Album of Calligraphy and Paintings
Sumiyoshi Monogatari
Traveling to Ugeumam, Buan