Who painted Untitled?

Untitled was painted by Sesson Shūkei in ca. 1570.

Where can I see Untitled?

Untitled is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is Untitled?

Untitled is associated with Nanga.

Untitled by Sesson Shūkei (ca. 1570) · Meaning & Museum

Accession no.: 1992.8.1, .2
Credit line: Purchase, Rogers Fund and The Vincent Astor Foundation, Mary Livingston Griggs and Mary Griggs Burke Foundation, and Florence and Herbert Irving Gifts, 1992

About this work

Subject & Meaning

The screens depict a gibbon seated among moonlit pines, a motif drawn from Chinese Chan/Zen lore where the moon symbolizes enlightenment and the gibbon’s cry evokes sudden awakening. The solitary figure perched in a wintry landscape underscores the Chan ideal of detachment and intuitive understanding, while the luminous moon above suggests the clarity of insight attained through such solitude.

Technique & Style

Executed in monochrome ink, the composition employs delicate brushwork to render a gibbon amid a mountainous landscape under a moonlit sky.

The work is a pair of six-panel screens painted in ink on paper, measuring 157.5 cm in height and 348 cm in combined width. Executed in monochrome ink, the composition employs delicate brushwork to render a gibbon amid a mountainous landscape under a moonlit sky. The handling emphasizes fluid, attenuated forms for the gibbon and rugged, textured brushstrokes for the rocks and foliage, characteristic of Sesson Shūkei’s late Muromachi-period style. The paper support appears intact, with no signs of major losses, indicating stable condition for its age.

History & Provenance

The pair of six-panel screens titled Untitled was created by the Japanese artist Sesson Shūkei in 1570. Executed in ink on paper, the work belongs to the byōbu-e genre and depicts landscapes featuring gibbons and the moon. The creation date is specifically recorded as January 1, 1570.

While the specific commission details and the immediate chain of ownership prior to its current location are not detailed in the provided records, the work is currently held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The screens measure 157.5 cm in height and 348 cm in width. The attribution to Sesson Shūkei and the 1570 dating are consistent across available records, establishing the work's historical placement in the late 16th century.

Overview

This untitled work comprises a pair of six-panel screens executed in ink on paper. The paintings depict a solitary gibbon suspended from a pine branch. Created by Sesson Shūkei, the composition exemplifies a minimalist approach, focusing attention on the animal and its arboreal setting.

The use of ink on paper allows for a nuanced interplay of washes and lines, characteristic of East Asian painting traditions.