Who painted Untitled?

Untitled was painted by Shibata Zeshin in late 19th century.

Where can I see Untitled?

Untitled is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is Untitled?

Untitled is associated with Impressionism.

Artwork

Untitled

Shibata Zeshin , 1879

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

While the work is classified broadly as a landscape, the specific presence of the avian figure defines its representational focus.

Created in 1879 by Shibata Zeshin, this work is a landscape composition executed in tempera on paper. Originally fashioned as a fan painting, the piece was subsequently mounted as an album leaf. The primary subject depicted within the scene is a bird, which serves as the central iconographic element of the composition.

While the work is classified broadly as a landscape, the specific presence of the avian figure defines its representational focus. The piece was produced in Japan and later entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Technique & Style

This work is a fan painting mounted as an album leaf, executed in tempera on paper. The support is paper, and the medium is tempera, combined with the fan format and its remounting as an album leaf.

Stylistically, the piece is classified as a landscape painting depicting a bird, consistent with Shibata Zeshin's late Edo and early Meiji-era lacquer-painter's approach adapted to paper-based formats.

History & Provenance

Untitled is a 1879 fan painting by Shibata Zeshin, created as an album leaf featuring a bird motif in tempera on paper. It entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, which holds the work in its collection and displays it at its location in New York.

Overview

Created in 1879, this small fan‑mounted work by Shibata Zeshin presents a brief landscape rendered in tempera on paper. The composition centers on two sparrows perched on a stark branch, set against a luminous gold field that occupies the entire background.

Artist & collection

Artist

Shibata Zeshin

Japanese, 1807–1891

Museum

Metropolitan Museum of Art

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