Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an unspecified 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
The work is part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection, reflecting its recognized importance within the museum’s holdings of Japanese paintings.
The painting, titled Untitled and dated 1891, is an album leaf on silk that belongs to the still‑life genre. It portrays a single fish as its central subject, rendered in a style characteristic of late‑19th‑century Japanese art. The fish functions as the primary motif, a subject that traditionally conveys themes of abundance in Japanese visual culture, though the artist’s specific symbolic intention is not documented.
The work is part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection, reflecting its recognized importance within the museum’s holdings of Japanese paintings.
Technique & Style
The work Untitled by Seki Shūkō is a painting executed on a silk album leaf, a medium recorded in the source documentation.
Measured at 34.3 cm in height and 27.6 cm in width, the piece was created in Japan in 1891 and portrays a fish within the still‑life genre.
It is housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it remains part of the museum’s collection; the source does not provide further details on its physical condition.
History & Provenance
Created in 1891 by the Japanese artist Seki Shūkō, this album leaf on silk depicts a still life of fish. The work originated in Japan and was later acquired by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it remains in the collection. Specific details regarding the original commission, intermediate ownership history, or the circumstances of its creation beyond the date and location are not provided in the available records.
The 1891 album leaf Untitled by Seki Shūkō is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Created in Japan, this silk painting depicts a still life of fish and measures 34.3 cm in height by 27.6 cm in width. The provided sources confirm the work's location and physical attributes but do not list a specific accession number or detail any past exhibitions.
Overview
Created around 1891, this untitled work by Seki Shūkō is a small painting executed on an album leaf of silk. The composition centers on a solitary fish rendered against an unadorned background, allowing the subject’s delicate coloration and surface texture to dominate the visual field.
Context
The piece belongs to the late Meiji period, a time when Japan was increasingly exposed to Western artistic ideas. Within this climate, Seki’s work demonstrates how Japanese painters began to incorporate looser, more atmospheric effects while retaining the disciplined line work of their heritage.
Artist & collection
