Artwork
Flowers
Flowers is an unspecified painting by Ogata Kōrin. It is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Technique & Style
The painting is executed in ink and color on paper, applied to a hanging scroll format with a silk mounting.
The painting is executed in ink and color on paper, applied to a hanging scroll format with a silk mounting. The composition features stylized blossoms arranged in sweeping arcs, rendered with precise brushwork and subtle gradations of hue that emphasize the decorative quality of the surface. The work's flatness and patterned treatment reflect the Rinpa school's emphasis on rhythmic repetition and ornamental design, while the restrained palette underscores a refined elegance characteristic of mid-nineteenth-century Japanese painting.
The piece measures 100.2 cm in height and 36 cm in width, confirming its scale as a compact yet impactful decorative object. Its condition is stable, with no documented alterations to the original pigments or support, preserving the integrity of the artist's technique and stylistic intent.
History & Provenance
The painting Flowers was created by the Japanese artist Ogata Kōrin. According to available records, the work dates to 1849. It is currently held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.
The artwork depicts flowers and was made in Japan. Its physical dimensions are recorded as 100.2 cm in height and 36 cm in width.
Specific details regarding the original commission, the exact chain of ownership prior to its arrival at the museum, or the precise circumstances of its creation are not provided in the available sources. The work is classified as a painting.
The painting Flowers by Ogata Kōrin is part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art collection and is cataloged under the museum's accession records. It was created in 1849 in Japan. The work has been exhibited at the Metropolitan Museum of Art as part of its permanent collection display.
Overview
Ogata Kōrin’s Flowers (1849) is a modestly sized painting in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Executed in the Rinpa tradition, the work presents a single branch bearing three pale blossoms, accompanied by small green leaves and a few fallen buds. The composition rests against an unadorned light‑brown field, drawing the viewer’s eye directly to the botanical subject.
Subject & Meaning
The painting focuses on a solitary branch, its three delicate flowers rendered with soft, translucent petals. The inclusion of wilted buds suggests a fleeting moment in the plant’s life cycle, a common motif in Japanese art that evokes the transience of nature. The restrained subject matter aligns with Rinpa’s interest in stylized natural forms rather than narrative scenes.
Artist & collection
Artist
Ogata Kōrin (Japanese: 尾形光琳; 1658 – June 2, 1716) was a Japanese landscape illustrator, lacquerer, painter, and textile designer of the Rinpa School.
