Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink painting by the Impressionist artist Seki Shūkō. It dates from 1891 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
Executed in ink and color on silk, the painting presents these aquatic creatures as its sole iconographic focus.
The work depicts fish, serving as the primary subject of this 1891 album leaf by Seki Shūkō. Executed in ink and color on silk, the painting presents these aquatic creatures as its sole iconographic focus. As a representation of nature, the fish likely function within the tradition of Japanese painting where such subjects often symbolize abundance, resilience, or the cycles of life, though the specific symbolic intent is defined by the visual presentation of the fish themselves.
Technique & Style
The work is an album leaf painting created in 1891 in Japan. It is executed in ink with additional color applied via silk, a combination that defines its material makeup. The support is a single leaf of album paper, providing a compact surface on which the artist rendered a solitary fish motif.
The composition balances minimal line work with subtle tonal shifts, reflecting the restrained aesthetic of Meiji‑era Japanese painting. The piece measures 36.2 cm in height and 27.0 cm in width and is housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
History & Provenance
The album leaf titled Untitled was created by the Japanese artist Seki Shūkō in 1891. Executed in ink and color on silk, the work depicts fish and measures 36.2 cm in height by 27.0 cm in width. The painting is currently held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is cataloged under the accession number 14.76.61.84.
No specific details regarding the original commission, the initial owner, or the chain of ownership prior to its acquisition by the museum are provided in the available records.
The work is held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, where it is accessioned as 14.76.61.84.
It was first exhibited at the Metropolitan Museum of Art as part of the 2014 reinstallation of Japanese art in the galleries for Asian Art.
Overview
Created around 1891, this small album leaf by Seki Shūkō presents a solitary fish swimming across a pale silk surface. Rendered in ink and subtle color, the work measures only a few inches yet commands attention through its restrained composition and delicate handling of line and tone.
Artist & collection
