Who painted Untitled?

Untitled was painted by Yoshitoshi Mori in 1959.

Where can I see Untitled?

Untitled is held by Museum of Modern Art.

Artwork

Untitled

Yoshitoshi Mori , 1959

Untitled is an ink print by Yoshitoshi Mori. It dates from 1959 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1959, this woodcut by Japanese artist Yoshitoshi Mori presents a stylized procession of figures seated in a cart. The composition is rendered in bold, blocky forms with striking red and white patterns on the vehicle and dark clothing on the passengers, emphasizing graphic contrast typical of Mori’s printmaking.

Subject & Meaning

The scene depicts a group of individuals gripping sticks while riding in a large‑wheel cart, a motif that may allude to traditional festivals or theatrical processions. Though untitled, the work reflects Mori’s interest in communal activity and the visual language of popular performance culture.

Technique & Style

Mori employed a woodcut process, carving the design into a wooden block and printing it onto paper. The piece showcases his characteristic use of vivid colors applied through a stencil method, producing crisp edges, flat areas of hue, and a simplified, graphic aesthetic reminiscent of folk craft designs.

History & Provenance

Originally produced after Mori’s shift from textile work to printmaking, the print aligns with his involvement in the mingei folk craft movement. It entered the collection of the Museum of Modern Art, where it remains part of the institution’s holdings of mid‑20th‑century Japanese prints.

Context

Mori’s career was rooted in kappazuri stencil prints, a technique traditionally used for theater billboards. By the late 1950s, he was integrating that approach into fine‑art woodcuts, bridging popular visual culture and the postwar Japanese folk art revival.