Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink painting. It dates from 1834 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The print, produced in 1834 as a hand‑colored woodblock hanging scroll, portrays a young boy together with a fish.
The print, produced in 1834 as a hand‑colored woodblock hanging scroll, portrays a young boy together with a fish. In the context of Edo‑period genre painting, such a composition reflects everyday encounters and the material culture of the time, emphasizing the presence of children and aquatic life in domestic or market settings. The anonymous artist’s focus on these figures aligns with the genre’s interest in quotidian scenes rather than allegorical narrative, allowing viewers to interpret the interaction as a simple representation of daily life. The work is part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection and was created in Japan.
Technique & Style
Created in 1834, this work is a hand-colored woodblock print mounted as a hanging scroll. Originating from Japan, the piece functions as a genre scene depicting a boy and a fish. As a print-based medium presented in a scroll format, the artwork relies on the traditional techniques of woodblock printing combined with manual color application.
The physical support consists of the printed image adhered to hanging scroll mounting materials, a standard format for displaying such works in East Asian art traditions.
History & Provenance
Created in 1834 in Japan, this hand-colored woodblock print on a hanging scroll was produced by an anonymous artist. The work, which depicts a boy with fish, is currently held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. No specific details regarding its original commission or the chain of ownership prior to its acquisition by the museum are provided in the available records.
The work titled Untitled (1834) is a hand‑colored woodblock print on a hanging scroll that depicts a boy with a fish. It is held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, where it is part of the museum’s collection. It is catalogued within the museum’s department of Asian art.
The sources do not provide an explicit inventory or accession number for the piece. No exhibition history is recorded for this work in the available documentation.
Overview
This untitled Japanese woodblock print, presented as a hanging scroll, depicts a young boy in a blue robe. He is shown crouching beside a wooden tub, holding aloft a large red fish, while numerous smaller fish swim around his feet in the water. Created in the 1800s, this artwork exemplifies the popular and accessible printmaking tradition of the era.
Context
Originating from Japan during the 19th century, this print belongs to a genre of art that was widely disseminated. Woodblock prints were a democratic art form, produced in quantities that made them affordable for a broad segment of the population. Their accessibility allowed a diverse audience to acquire and display artworks, contributing to their widespread cultural impact.
Artist & collection
