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Untitled

Utagawa Toyokuni I

1800

ink

From the collection of Metropolitan Museum of Art

Romanticism Early 19th Century Genre Scene river washing working

Dominant colour

Untitled is a 1800 ink by Utagawa Toyokuni I, a Romanticism work, depicting river, held at Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Who painted this?: Utagawa Toyokuni I
When & what style?: 1800 · Romanticism
Where can I see it?: Metropolitan Museum of Art

About this work

This painting shows five women in a riverside scene. They’re dressed in loose robes and hats, doing everyday tasks. Two women are near a well, one is carrying a basket, another stands by a basket of laundry, and the last is kneeling by a wooden tub. The background has trees and wavy water, with a bridge in the distance. The women’s clothes and the way they’re arranged suggest a busy day of chores by the river. The artist used soft colors and smooth lines to show movement and life. Look up washing, working, river next to see how this kind of scene fits into daily life in old Japan.