Who painted Untitled?

Untitled was painted by Kita Genki in dated 1674.

Where can I see Untitled?

Untitled is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is Untitled?

Untitled is associated with Baroque.

Untitled by Kita Genki (dated 1674) · Meaning & Museum

About this work

Subject & Meaning

The work was created by Japanese artist Kita Genki and belongs to the portrait genre, reflecting a focus on individual characterization.

Untitled (1674) is a hanging scroll in ink and color on silk that portrays the figure identified as Mu'an. The work was created by Japanese artist Kita Genki and belongs to the portrait genre, reflecting a focus on individual characterization. Executed in Japan, the scroll was later acquired by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it remains on view.

Rather than employing explicit iconographic symbols, the painting conveys meaning through compositional balance, subtle tonal modulation, and the direct representation of the sitter’s visage. This approach underscores the cultural emphasis on personal presence within Japanese portraiture of the seventeenth century.

Technique & Style

The work is a hanging scroll executed in ink with added color on silk, a format typical of Japanese portrait paintings from the seventeenth century. It portrays the figure identified as Mu'an and is classified as a painting within the portrait genre. The medium combines ink drawing with subtle color washes on a silk support, allowing fine line work and delicate tonal modulation.

As a portrait, the composition emphasizes the sitter’s presence through restrained detailing and a focus on facial expression, characteristic of the period’s scholarly portraiture. The scroll’s handling would have been vertical suspension, preserving the integrity of the silk surface.

History & Provenance

The hanging scroll known as Untitled was created in 1674 by the artist Kita Genki in Japan. Executed in ink and color on silk, the work is a portrait depicting the figure Mu'an. While the specific commissioning patron or initial ownership chain are not detailed in the available records, the work is firmly dated to 1674.

It is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, as recorded in the museum’s catalog. The available documentation does not provide an explicit inventory or accession number, and no exhibition history is included in the cited sources.

Overview

This untitled hanging scroll, rendered in ink and color on silk, depicts a serene monk seated on a rock. His hands are folded within his broad sleeves, and his eyes are half-closed, conveying a sense of inner calm. Soft, swirling strokes of ink suggest trees and mist surrounding the figure, contributing to the contemplative atmosphere of the scene.

Context

The artist, Kita Genki, primarily received commissions from religious institutions rather than imperial or aristocratic courts. This patronage likely influenced the unadorned and intimate character of his portraiture. Unlike more formal courtly depictions, this work exemplifies a style that prioritizes a direct and sincere representation, aligning with the spiritual environment of Zen temples.