Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a tempera painting by the Impressionist artist Shibata Zeshin. It dates from 1879 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
Created in 1879, this fan painting by Shibata Zeshin presents a still-life composition that juxtaposes organic and crafted elements.
Created in 1879, this fan painting by Shibata Zeshin presents a still-life composition that juxtaposes organic and crafted elements. The work depicts flowers alongside a musical instrument, arranged as distinct visual subjects on paper. While the specific species of flower or the exact type of instrument are not detailed in the available records, the pairing suggests a thematic focus on the beauty of nature and human artistry.
As a work from late nineteenth-century Japan, the image reflects the aesthetic traditions of the period without explicit narrative context provided by the sources.
History & Provenance
The work was created in 1879 in Japan by Shibata Zeshin as a fan painting mounted as an album leaf using tempera on paper, depicting flowers and a musical instrument. The piece entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is currently held.
The work Untitled by Shibata Zeshin, created in 1879, is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. The painting, a fan mounted as an album leaf, is part of the museum's holdings of Japanese art. While the specific inventory or accession number is not provided in the available sources, the work is documented as being in the permanent collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. No exhibition history is recorded in the provided sources.
Overview
Shibata Zeshin's Untitled (1879) is a tempera painting on paper, originally conceived as a functional fan before being mounted as an album leaf. This still life composition features delicate flowers alongside a musical instrument, rendered with a subtle elegance characteristic of the artist's work. It exemplifies Zeshin's skill in transforming everyday objects into refined artistic subjects.
Technique & Style
Zeshin employed tempera paint on paper to create this still life, originally intended for a portable fan rather than a static wall display. A distinctive aspect of his technique is the use of gofun, a pigment made from crushed seashells mixed with glue. This material imparts a luminous quality to the white areas of the painting, enhancing the delicate appearance of the flowers and contributing to the artwork's refined aesthetic.
Artist & collection
