Who painted Untitled?

Untitled was painted by Ogata Kōrin in 1687.

Where can I see Untitled?

Untitled is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is Untitled?

Untitled is associated with Baroque.

Untitled by Ogata Kōrin (1687) · Meaning & Museum

About this work

Subject & Meaning

The subject belongs to the still-life genre, focusing on the transient beauty of nature rather than narrative or figure.

The hanging scroll depicts a single flowering branch, rendered in Ogata Kōrin’s stylized manner. The blossoms, shown in profile against a muted ground, emphasize the plant’s natural form while flattening space through subtle gradations of color and delicate contour lines. The subject belongs to the still-life genre, focusing on the transient beauty of nature rather than narrative or figure.

In Japanese painting traditions of the period, such images often alluded to the ephemeral quality of life, a theme resonant with contemporaneous poetic and philosophical discourse.

Technique & Style

Created in 1687, this work by Ogata Kōrin is a hanging scroll executed in color on paper. The piece depicts flowers, aligning with the still-life genre, and was produced in Japan. Physically, the artwork measures 98.4 cm in height and 35.6 cm in width.

As a painting on paper support, it represents the artist's engagement with floral subjects during the late seventeenth century.

History & Provenance

The painting was created by Ogata Kōrin in 1687, as established by its inception date. Executed in Japan, it is a hanging scroll rendered in color on paper, depicting floral subject matter.

Ownership of the work is traced to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is currently held in the museum’s collection. No prior commissioning patron or intermediate private owners are documented in the available sources.

The hanging scroll titled Untitled by Ogata Kōrin is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Created in 1687, this work depicts flowers and is executed in color on paper. The museum's records list the piece with a height of 98.4 cm and a width of 35.6 cm. No specific accession number or exhibition history is provided in the available sources.

Context

Ogata Kōrin's Untitled (1687) exemplifies the decorative yet expressive qualities of Edo-period Japanese painting, particularly within the Rinpa school's tradition of stylized natural motifs. This hanging scroll, depicting a flower in mineral pigments on paper, reflects the artist's mastery of compositional balance and his influence on later Japanese artists who revived classical techniques. The work is part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection, underscoring its significance in Western appreciation of Japanese art history.

Legacy

Ogata Kōrin's Untitled (1687) is recognized for its enduring impact on Japanese decorative arts. The hanging scroll's vibrant floral composition has influenced subsequent generations of artists through its distinctive use of bold outlines and stylized forms. Its inclusion in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection has ensured continued scholarly attention and public appreciation of Kōrin's innovative approach to the still_life genre.

Overview

Ogata Kōrin, a central figure of the Japanese Rinpa school, executed this hanging scroll in 1687. Rendered in color on paper, the work presents a solitary flower with a green stalk against an expansive, unfilled background. The composition’s restraint and emphasis on pattern exemplify the Rinpa approach to decorative yet refined painting.