Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a gold 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
Subject & Meaning
Created in 1837 by Shibata Zeshin, this lacquer work on gold paper depicts a tea ceremony. Classified as a still life, the album leaf utilizes its specific medium to represent the ritual objects and setting associated with this Japanese cultural practice. The imagery focuses entirely on the elements of the ceremony, serving as a visual representation of the event rather than a narrative scene.
Technique & Style
The work is executed in lacquer on gold paper, taking the form of an album leaf classified as a painting. Its small format, measuring 12.1 by 8.9 centimeters, suits the intimate scale typical of album leaves, and the lacquer medium applied over a gilded ground produces a lustrous surface suited to a still-life treatment of tea ceremony implements. The piece was produced in Japan in 1837.
History & Provenance
The painting is attributed to Shibata Zeshin and dated to 1837. It is recorded as an album leaf in lacquer on gold paper depicting a tea ceremony scene, with dimensions of 12.1 cm in height and 8.9 cm in width. The work is housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, where it is listed as part of the museum's permanent collection.
Overview
Untitled, a work by Shibata Zeshin dated 1837, is executed on a small square of gold‑paper album leaf. The composition presents a minimalist still life that centers on the implements of a Japanese tea ceremony, rendered with a restrained, quiet elegance.
Artist & collection
