Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink painting by the Song dynasty painting artist Emperor Huizong. It dates from 1302 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
- Accession no.
- 13.100.98
- Credit line
- John Stewart Kennedy Fund, 1913
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The painting, titled Untitled, shows a bird alongside fruit, rendered as a still‑life on a silk album leaf using ink and color.
The painting, titled Untitled, shows a bird alongside fruit, rendered as a still‑life on a silk album leaf using ink and color. Emperor Huizong is identified as the creator, and the work measures 23.2 cm by 24.1 cm, originating from China. Its subject follows traditional East Asian still‑life iconography in which birds and fruit can signify transience and abundance, though the sources do not elaborate on specific symbolic meaning. The composition is part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection, displayed in New York.
Technique & Style
This work is executed in ink and color on silk, originally created as a fan and subsequently mounted as an album leaf. The painting depicts birds and fruit, reflecting a still-life genre tradition within Chinese art. Executed by an anonymous painter, the piece measures 23.2 cm in height and 24.1 cm in width.
The composition and medium are characteristic of imperial-era Chinese painting techniques, emphasizing delicate brushwork and naturalistic detail on a silk support.
History & Provenance
The work titled Untitled, attributed to Emperor Huizong or an anonymous painter, is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The painting depicts birds and fruit and is executed in ink and color on silk, mounted as an album leaf. The source material confirms its presence in the museum's collection and notes its dimensions as 23.2 cm in height and 24.1 cm in width. No specific accession number, inventory details, or exhibition history are provided in the available records.
Overview
Untitled, created in 1302 by Emperor Huizong, is an ink and color painting on silk, originally a fan and now mounted as an album leaf. This work presents a still life composition featuring avian subjects and fruit. It exemplifies the refined aesthetic favored within the Chinese imperial court during this period, characterized by meticulous detail and a balanced use of space.
Context
This painting emerged from the sophisticated artistic environment of the Chinese imperial court. Emperor Huizong, known for his patronage of the arts and his own artistic pursuits, likely created this piece. Works of this nature were highly valued for their aesthetic precision and the cultural refinement they represented, reflecting the scholarly and artistic ideals of the era.
Artist & collection
Artist
Emperor Huizong (1082-1135) was the eighth emperor of the Song dynasty of China, reigning from 1100 to 1126, and one of the most accomplished artist-rulers in Chinese history.
