Who painted Untitled?

Untitled was painted by Kaseki in 1741.

Where can I see Untitled?

Untitled is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is Untitled?

Untitled is associated with Baroque.

Untitled by Kaseki (1741) · Meaning & Museum

About this work

Technique & Style

Although condition details are not specified in the available records, the work remains part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection.

The work Untitled (1741) is a hanging scroll painted in ink and color on silk by Kaseki. Executed on a silk support, the piece employs traditional brush techniques that render a delicate landscape with a hand fan, a flowing stream, and a solitary woman. The scroll's format allows the image to be rolled for storage, reflecting the handling customs of Edo-period hanging scrolls.

Although condition details are not specified in the available records, the work remains part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection. Stylistically, the composition balances negative space with fine line work, uses a restrained palette, and exemplifies the landscape genre through its emphasis on natural motifs and subtle color washes.

History & Provenance

Untitled, a hanging scroll by Kaseki dated 1741, was produced in Japan as an ink and color work on silk depicting a hand fan, a stream, and a woman. Classified as a landscape painting, it entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, where it is held in the Japanese paintings department. No earlier owners or commissioning details are recorded in the available sources, and the work's specific accession number and exhibition history are not listed in the documentation.

Overview

Kaseki's Untitled, from 1741, is an ink and color painting on silk, presented as a hanging scroll. It features a figure by a stream, holding a fan, capturing a moment of quiet contemplation within a natural setting. The work exemplifies a subtle approach to landscape and figure painting, characteristic of its period.

Subject & Meaning

The composition centers on a woman in a long robe, positioned beside a flowing stream, holding a hand fan. This seemingly simple object transcends its practical use, suggesting a connection to the natural elements, perhaps evoking the sensation of a gentle breeze. The scene conveys a sense of tranquility and personal reflection, rather than a grand narrative.

Context

The depiction of a hand fan in Untitled places the work within a broader artistic tradition of portraying everyday objects and scenes. Fans were common accessories in daily life, frequently appearing in art to signify social customs, leisure, or simply to evoke a sense of the season. Kaseki's inclusion of the fan reflects this established motif.