Who painted Untitled?

Untitled was painted by Kano Naonobu in 1628.

Where can I see Untitled?

Untitled is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is Untitled?

Untitled is associated with Baroque.

Artwork

Untitled

Kano Naonobu , 1628

Untitled is an ink painting by the Baroque artist Kano Naonobu. It dates from 1628 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Created in 1628, this hanging scroll presents a solitary bird perched on an almost invisible branch, rendered solely with ink on paper.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

Kano Naonobu's 1628 hanging scroll, executed in ink on paper, is classified as a landscape painting whose subject matter centers on a bird.

Kano Naonobu's 1628 hanging scroll, executed in ink on paper, is classified as a landscape painting whose subject matter centers on a bird. The avian motif is the principal element identified in the work's iconographic description, situating the image within the Japanese ink-painting tradition in which birds frequently serve as focal points within natural settings.

In East Asian pictorial conventions, the depiction of a bird in a landscape context often carries symbolic resonance, evoking themes of nature, seasonal change, or the harmony between living creatures and their environment. Rendered in monochrome ink, the work emphasizes form and gesture over color, a hallmark of the Kano school's approach to such subjects.

The bird functions as the representational anchor of the composition, lending the scroll its descriptive identity while inviting readings tied to traditional associations between specific species and the natural world.

Technique & Style

The work is a hanging scroll executed in monochrome ink on paper, a format characteristic of Japanese painting traditions of the early seventeenth century. Classified as a landscape painting, the composition incorporates a bird as a depicted element, suggesting a brush-based handling suited to the scroll's vertical orientation. The scroll measures 103.5 cm in height and 39.4 cm in width, proportions consistent with a narrow hanging format designed for viewing in an interior architectural setting.

The use of ink on paper, rather than pigment on silk, indicates a fluid, possibly calligraphic approach to the brushwork. The work is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

History & Provenance

Created in 1628 by the Japanese artist Kano Naonobu, this hanging scroll executed in ink on paper depicts a bird within a landscape composition. The work originated in Japan during the early seventeenth century. It currently resides in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, which serves as its known location and holding institution.

No further details regarding specific commissions, previous owners, or the chain of custody prior to its museum acquisition are provided in the available records.

The hanging scroll titled Untitled by Kano Naonobu is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Created in Japan in 1628, the work features ink on paper and depicts a bird within a landscape setting. The museum's records list the piece with dimensions of 103.5 cm in height and 39.4 cm in width.

While the artwork is confirmed as part of the institution's holdings, the provided sources do not specify a unique accession number or detail any past or future exhibition history for this specific piece.

Overview

Created in 1628, this hanging scroll presents a solitary bird perched on an almost invisible branch, rendered solely with ink on paper. The composition is minimal, allowing the bird to appear suspended within an empty space that suggests a landscape without explicit detail. The work exemplifies the restrained aesthetic of early Edo period ink painting.