Artwork
Untitled

Untitled is an ink painting by the Baroque artist Kano Eisen'in Furunobu 狩野永川院古. It dates from 1715 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The painting shows a mounted figure in what appears to be a game of polo, an activity identified as equestrian sport in the source descriptions.
The painting shows a mounted figure in what appears to be a game of polo, an activity identified as equestrian sport in the source descriptions. The rider, rendered in traditional Japanese style, is depicted on a horse that dominates the composition, emphasizing movement and vigor. As a hanging scroll created in 1715, the work belongs to the history‑painting genre and reflects the cultural appreciation of martial pursuits in early Tokugawa Japan.
The iconography of the horse and rider serves as a visual representation of skill, status, and the recreational pastimes of the elite, suggesting a symbolic link between martial competence and social prestige.
Technique & Style
Created in 1715 by Kano Eisen'in Furunobu, this work is executed as a hanging scroll. The artist utilized ink and color applied directly onto a silk support, a medium characteristic of Japanese history painting from this period. The composition measures 49.5 centimeters in height and 104.5 centimeters in width.
Stylistically, the piece functions as a history painting depicting equestrian themes, specifically featuring a man engaged in the sport of polo alongside a horse. The combination of ink and mineral colors on silk allows for the detailed rendering of the figures and the dynamic action associated with the sporting scene.
History & Provenance
The hanging scroll titled Untitled was created in 1715 by the artist Kano Eisen'in Furunobu in Japan. Executed in ink and color on silk, the work measures 49.5 by 104.5 centimeters and depicts scenes of equestrianism and polo. The painting is currently held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
While the specific commissioning patron or the precise chain of ownership prior to its arrival at the museum are not detailed in the available records, the work's creation date is firmly established as 1715. The piece serves as a historical record of sporting activities from the early eighteenth century in Japan.
The hanging scroll titled Untitled, created in 1715 by Kano Eisen'in Furunobu, is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. While the provided sources confirm the museum as the current location and the 1715 inception date, they do not specify a unique accession or inventory number for this specific work. Furthermore, the available documentation does not contain details regarding a specific exhibition history or past display records for this piece.
The artwork, which depicts polo and equestrian themes, remains part of the museum's holdings as a Japanese painting executed in ink and color on silk.
Overview
This untitled work, rendered in ink and color on silk as a hanging scroll, captures a dynamic equestrian scene. A figure clad in a vibrant red robe is depicted astride a white horse, which gallops with its mane swept back. The composition focuses solely on the rider and steed, emphasizing their movement against an unadorned background.
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