Two Sketches: One of a Turtle, the Other of Two Unidentified Objects
18th–19th century
Medium
Ink and color on paper
Dimensions
Turtle: 5 x 9 5/16 in. (12.7 x 23.7 cm) Other sketch. 5 3/8 x 7 7/8 in. (13.7 x 20 cm)
Classification
Paintings
Culture & Period
Japan · Edo period (1615–1868)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Annette Young, in memory of her brother, Innis Young, 1956
Accession Number
56.121.14
Tags
Art Historical Context
Katsushika Hokus, the legendary Japanese artist of the Edo period (1615–1868), is celebrated for his masterful depictions of nature and everyday life in the ukiyo-e tradition. This pair of sketches—one featuring a detailed turtle and the other two unidentified objects—exemplifies his boundless curiosity and skill as a draftsman. Created in the 18th–19th using ink and color on paper these intimate works (measuring about 5 x 9 inches each) offer a glimpse into Hokusai's preparatory process, likely studies for larger prints or paintings. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Asian Art Depart...
About the Artist
Katsushika Hokusai · 1760–1849
Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849) stands as one of history's most influential artists, a Japanese master who revolutionized the ukiyo-e woodblock print tradition and profoundly shaped Western art. Born in the Katsushika district of Edo (modern-day Tokyo) to an artisan family, Hokusai lived through nearly nine decades of extraordinary creative evolution, adopting over thirty different artistic names t...