Untitled

Created in 1882 by the Japanese artist Shibata Zeshin, this lacquer-on-paper work was produced in Japan. The piece, which depicts a still life arrangement of flowers, gourds, insects, and vines, currently resides in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. While the specific circumstances of its commission and the detailed chain of ownership prior to its museum acquisition are not enumerated in the available records, the work's inception is firmly dated to the beginning of 1882.

It is classified within the museum's paintings department, marking it as a significant example of Zeshin's late-period output in lacquer media.

The lacquer painting titled Untitled by Shibata Zeshin, created in 1882, is currently held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. While the specific accession number is not provided in the available documentation, the work is cataloged within the museum's holdings as a painting of Japanese origin. The piece depicts a still life arrangement featuring flowers, gourds, insects, and vines.

No specific exhibition history or loan records for this work are detailed in the provided sources, though its presence in the Metropolitan Museum of Art confirms its status as a public collection item. The artwork measures 19.1 cm in height and 16.5 cm in width.

Shibata Zeshin’s Untitled (1882) is documented as a lacquer-on-paper painting in the still-life genre, measuring 19.1 × 16.5 cm and depicting a flower, gourd, insect, and vine; the work is part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection, reflecting its status as a representative example of Meiji-era lacquer innovation. Its inclusion in a major institutional collection has prompted scholarly attention to Zeshin’s role in modernizing traditional Japanese painting, positioning the piece within broader discussions of artistic exchange during the late nineteenth century.

Created in 1882 by Shibata Zeshin, this untitled work depicts a still life arrangement featuring two gourds suspended from a twisted vine, a dragonfly hovering above, and pink flowers positioned to the side. The artist executed the composition on paper coated with black lacquer, a technique that transforms the support into a glossy, durable surface typically reserved for functional objects like boxes or furniture. This medium allows the painted colors to appear luminous, creating an effect of internal illumination against the deep, reflective background.

Zeshin, a master of lacquerware who also worked in painting, frequently employed this hybrid method to blur the boundaries between fine art and decorative craft. The piece exemplifies his late-career mastery, where he adapted the rigorous standards of lacquer application to the fluidity of paper painting. The composition balances naturalistic observation with a stylized elegance characteristic of the late Edo and early Meiji periods, showcasing Zeshin's unique ability to elevate everyday subjects through innovative material usage.