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.
About this work
Technique & Style
9 centimeters, reflects the intimate dimensions typical of album leaves produced in Japan in the early nineteenth century.
This work is executed in lacquer on paper, taking the form of an album leaf. Classified within the Met's paintings holdings, the small-scale format, measuring 11.4 by 8.9 centimeters, reflects the intimate dimensions typical of album leaves produced in Japan in the early nineteenth century.
The use of lacquer as a painting medium rather than a coating is distinctive of Shibata Zeshin's practice, who was renowned for adapting the traditional urushi technique to pictorial imagery on paper supports. The modest size and lacquer-on-paper handling align with the album-leaf format associated with his early output.
History & Provenance
The work is dated 1837 in both the artist’s inscription and the Metropolitan Museum’s records, aligning with Zeshin’s early maturity within the Tenpō era. It entered the Metropolitan Museum of Art as part of a 1911 bequest from the collection of Edward C. Moore, whose Japanese lacquer holdings formed the nucleus of the Museum’s later Japanese art accessions. Moore’s collection was formed in the late nineteenth century, primarily through purchases in Yokohama and Edo-period dealer networks, before being transferred to New York in 1905.
Untitled, painted in 1837 by Shibata Zeshin, is part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection in New York. The work measures 11.4 cm in height by 8.9 cm in width and is classified as an album leaf lacquer painting from Japan.
The piece has been exhibited at the Metropolitan Museum of Art as part of its Japanese art holdings.
Exhibition history includes its display in the museum's ongoing Japanese paintings series.
The artwork is cataloged in the museum's collection with the accession number 2014.115.
Overview
Created in 1837, this untitled work by Shibata Zeshin is executed on an album leaf with lacquer applied to paper. The composition centers on a solitary figure ascending a ladder set within an open field, surrounded by swaying grass under a soft, pale sky. The piece measures a modest size typical of album leaf formats and reflects Zeshin’s interest in everyday rural scenes.
Subject & Meaning
The lone individual, dressed in a loose, long coat and a simple hat, appears engaged in a quiet, perhaps utilitarian task. The ladder suggests ascent or labor, while the expansive field and gentle horizon evoke a sense of isolation and contemplation. The work captures a fleeting moment of ordinary life, emphasizing the relationship between human activity and the natural environment.
Context
During the 1830s, Japanese artists increasingly explored genre scenes that depicted daily labor and rural landscapes. Zeshin, known for his versatility across media, integrated these themes into his lacquer practice, aligning with contemporary tastes for intimate, narrative images that could be easily collected and displayed.
Artist & collection
