Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink painting by the Romanticist artist Utagawa Hiroshige. It dates from 1829 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The iconography centers on these three distinct elements, which together establish a scene of transit and connection within a natural setting.
Created in 1829 by Utagawa Hiroshige, this hanging scroll presents a landscape composition featuring a river, a bridge, and a boat. The iconography centers on these three distinct elements, which together establish a scene of transit and connection within a natural setting. As a work classified within the landscape genre, the painting utilizes ink and color on silk to render these features, emphasizing the interaction between human infrastructure and the flowing water.
The depiction of the boat navigating the river beneath the bridge suggests themes of journey and the harmonious integration of travel routes into the Japanese environment.
Technique & Style
This 1829 hanging scroll is painted in ink and color on silk, measuring approximately 41.6 × 57.5 cm. Executed in Japan, the piece belongs to Hiroshige's landscape genre and depicts a boat passing beneath a bridge over a river. The medium combines delicate brushwork with subtle pigments, allowing layered washes of ink to define forms while restrained color accents highlight atmospheric depth. The composition balances linear perspective with lyrical brushstrokes, reflecting the formal qualities of Edo-period ukiyo-e landscape painting.
History & Provenance
Created in 1829 in Japan, this hanging scroll was executed by Utagawa Hiroshige using ink and color on silk. The work, which depicts a landscape featuring a boat, bridge, and river, currently resides in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The physical dimensions of the scroll are recorded as 41.6 cm in height and 57.5 cm in width.
Specific details regarding the commission and earlier ownership prior to entering the museum's holdings are not documented in the available sources.
Overview
Utagawa Hiroshige, a prominent ukiyo-e artist during Japan's Edo period, created this Untitled hanging scroll in 1829. Executed with ink and color on silk, the work exemplifies his characteristic departure from the genre's typical urban themes. Instead, it presents a tranquil landscape, showcasing his dedication to depicting natural environments within the established ukiyo-e tradition.
Context
As a leading figure in the ukiyo-e movement of the Edo period, Utagawa Hiroshige distinguished himself by concentrating on landscapes. This focus diverged from the genre's more common portrayals of city life, actors, and courtesans. His commitment to natural vistas, as seen in this work, expanded the thematic scope of ukiyo-e, offering viewers a different perspective on the "floating world."
Artist & collection
Artist
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.
- Untitled
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