Artwork
Rats on a Scholar’s Desk
Rats on a Scholar’s Desk is an unspecified painting by the Maruyama Shijo artist Nagasawa Rosetsu. It dates from 1798 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
History & Provenance
No additional details regarding an original commission, intermediate ownership, or transfer history are documented in the available sources.
Rats on a Scholar’s Desk was created by the Japanese painter Nagasawa Rosetsu in 1794, during the late Edo period. The work was produced in Japan and is classified as a painting. It subsequently entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is currently held.
No additional details regarding an original commission, intermediate ownership, or transfer history are documented in the available sources.
The painting Rats on a Scholar's Desk by Nagasawa Rosetsu is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Created in Japan in 1794, the work is classified as a painting within the museum's holdings. The source material confirms the institution's possession of this specific piece but does not provide a specific accession number, inventory code, or a record of past exhibitions featuring the work.
Overview
Created in 1798 by the Japanese painter Nagasawa Rosetsu, "Rats on a Scholar’s Desk" is part of the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The work depicts a small domestic scene in which two rodents occupy a scholar’s workspace, surrounded by books, a vase and assorted objects.
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on a gray and a white rat, each with prominent ears and elongated tails, perched on a red desk. An open blue book lies before them, while a vase spilling a few peacock feathers adds a decorative touch. The arrangement suggests a playful intrusion of nature into a scholarly environment, inviting a light‑hearted reflection on the coexistence of learning and the everyday.
Technique & Style
Rosetsu employs the bold line work and vivid coloration characteristic of Edo‑period Japanese painting. The figures are rendered with clear, decisive strokes, and the palette, rich reds, deep blues, and bright whites, enhances the scene’s lively atmosphere. The overall visual language balances precise draftsmanship with a whimsical narrative tone.
Artist & collection
Artist
Nagasawa Rosetsu (長沢芦雪; 1754–1799) was a Japanese painter during the Edo period. A disciple of the Maruyama School, he was known for his versatile artistic style. He was born to the family of a low-ranking samurai. He…
