Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an unspecified painting by the Nihonga artist Shibata Zeshin. It dates from 1837 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
- Accession no.
- 36.100.130
About this work
Subject & Meaning
No additional narrative or allegorical meaning is provided in the sources; the iconography is limited to these two natural forms.
The painting presents a butterfly alongside fruit as its primary visual motif. According to the documented record, the work shows a butterfly and fruit, elements that recur in Japanese still-life traditions. The depiction is recorded in the artist's catalogue and corroborated by the Metropolitan Museum of Art's catalog entry, which identifies the subject as butterfly and fruit.
No additional narrative or allegorical meaning is provided in the sources; the iconography is limited to these two natural forms.
Technique & Style
Created in 1837 by Shibata Zeshin, this work is an album leaf executed with lacquer on paper. The piece measures 11.4 cm in height and 8.9 cm in width. Stylistically, it functions as a still life, depicting motifs of butterflies and fruit.
The application of lacquer directly onto paper as a support highlights the artist's technical experimentation with materials beyond traditional silk or wooden panels. Produced in Japan, the small scale and specific medium choice characterize the intimate nature of the album leaf format, focusing on precise naturalistic details within a confined space.
History & Provenance
Created in 1837, this album leaf executed in lacquer on paper by the Japanese artist Shibata Zeshin depicts a butterfly and fruit. While the specific commissioning details or original ownership chain prior to its current location are not detailed in the available records, the work is currently held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. The piece is classified as a painting within the still-life genre, reflecting Zeshin's mastery of lacquer techniques applied to paper supports during the mid-nineteenth century.
Overview
This untitled painting by Shibata Zeshin, created in 1837, is an album leaf rendered in lacquer on paper. It presents a still life composition featuring a butterfly alongside two persimmons, one of which is depicted as split open. The work exemplifies Zeshin's innovative approach to traditional Japanese painting, particularly his mastery of an unconventional medium for paper.
Artist & collection
