Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink painting by the Kanō school artist Kano Yukinobu 狩野之信. It dates from 1536 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Created in 1536 by Kano Yukinobu, this work presents a solitary white camellia rendered against a luminous gold ground.
- Accession no.
- 1997.140
- Credit line
- Purchase, Friends of Asian Art Gifts, 1997
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The subject matter is strictly limited to the flower itself, without additional narrative or symbolic elements described in the available records.
The work depicts a flower, representing a still-life subject within the Japanese painting tradition. Executed in 1536 by Kano Yukinobu, the piece utilizes ink, color, and silver on gilded paper to render its botanical motif. Originally created as a fan, the composition was later mounted as a hanging scroll, preserving the floral imagery as a standalone visual focus.
The subject matter is strictly limited to the flower itself, without additional narrative or symbolic elements described in the available records.
Technique & Style
Created in 1536 by Kano Yukinobu, this work depicts a floral subject using ink, color, and silver applied to gilded paper. Although currently classified as a hanging scroll, the piece was originally executed on a fan before being mounted in its present format. The composition measures 24.8 cm in height and 49.5 cm in width, reflecting the compact scale typical of fan paintings adapted for vertical display.
The use of metallic silver alongside vibrant pigments on a gold ground highlights the decorative aesthetic characteristic of the period, while the still-life genre focuses attention on the botanical details of the flower.
History & Provenance
The work was painted by Kano Yukinobu in 1536, originally conceived as a fan before being remounted as a hanging scroll. It entered the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s holdings as part of its Japanese collection, where it remains located. The painting depicts a flower and is rendered in ink, color, and silver on gilded paper.
Overview
Created in 1536 by Kano Yukinobu, this work presents a solitary white camellia rendered against a luminous gold ground. The composition is confined to a single bloom, its delicate petals outlined with silver pigment that has since oxidized, giving the flower a muted, gray‑toned edge. The piece exemplifies the restrained elegance typical of mid‑16th‑century Japanese still‑life painting.
Artist & collection
Artist
Kano Yukinobu (1513 to 1575) was a Japanese painter of the Kano school during the Muromachi period.
