Artwork

Untitled

Untitled, by Utagawa Hiroshige, ink, 1850
Untitled, by Utagawa Hiroshige, ink, 1850

Untitled is an ink painting by the Romanticist artist Utagawa Hiroshige. It dates from 1850 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Accession no.
36.100.22

About this work

Subject & Meaning

The work combines the motifs of a woman, an umbrella, and snowfall to portray a quiet, seasonal scene.

The painting depicts a woman holding an umbrella while snow falls around her. The female figure is the primary subject, positioned centrally within the hanging scroll. The umbrella appears above her head, shielding her from the falling snow.

Snowflakes are rendered throughout the background, indicating a winter setting. The work combines the motifs of a woman, an umbrella, and snowfall to portray a quiet, seasonal scene. No other figures or objects are present in the composition.

Technique & Style

Untitled is a hanging scroll painted in ink and polychrome pigments on silk. The work belongs to the portrait genre and shows a woman holding an umbrella amid falling snow. The composition centers the figure within a restrained landscape, emphasizing the contrast between the dark umbrella and the pale snow. The painting measures approximately 79.1 centimeters in height and 31.8 centimeters in width.

History & Provenance

Untitled is a hanging scroll painted by Utagawa Hiroshige in 1850 in Japan, executed in ink and color on silk. The work portrays a snow-laden scene with a woman holding an umbrella. The Metropolitan Museum of Art's records confirm that the piece entered the museum's collection and remains on display there. No documentation of a specific commission or prior owners is provided in the available sources.

The work is housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. It is catalogued as part of the museum's collection of paintings, though the specific accession or inventory number is not provided in the available documentation. The hanging scroll, measuring 79.1 cm by 31.8 cm, was created in Japan and depicts a snow-laden scene with an umbrella and a woman.

Overview

Utagawa Hiroshige, a prominent ukiyo-e artist of Japan's late Edo period, created this Untitled hanging scroll around 1850. Executed with ink and color on silk, the artwork presents a solitary woman holding an umbrella amidst a gentle snowfall. This piece exemplifies Hiroshige's frequent engagement with natural environments and atmospheric conditions, a characteristic that often distinguished his work within the ukiyo-e tradition.

Context

As a leading figure in the ukiyo-e movement during the late Edo period, Utagawa Hiroshige was widely recognized for his landscape prints, notably series such as The Fifty-three Stations of the Tōkaidō. While ukiyo-e often focused on the bustling urban life of Edo, Hiroshige frequently explored themes of nature and travel. This hanging scroll aligns with his broader artistic interest in capturing the subtle beauty and atmospheric qualities of the natural world.

Segawa Kikunojo II as the Heron Maiden (from the series Ichimura Theater)
Segawa Kikunojo II as the Heron Maiden (from the series Ichimura Theater), Ippitsusai Bunchō

Artist & collection

Portrait of Utagawa Hiroshige

Artist

Utagawa Hiroshige

Utagawa Hiroshige (歌川 広重) or Andō Hiroshige (安藤 広重), born Andō Tokutarō (安藤 徳太郎; 1797 – 12 October 1858), was a Japanese ukiyo-e artist, considered the last great master of that tradition.

Frequently asked questions

Who painted Untitled?

Untitled was painted by Utagawa Hiroshige in 1840s–early 1850s.

Where can I see Untitled?

Untitled is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is Untitled?

Untitled is associated with Romanticism.