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
Created in 1837, this album leaf by Shibata Zeshin employs lacquer applied to a paper support. The work depicts a plant motif and measures 11.4 cm in height and 8.9 cm in width. It originates from Japan, and the application of lacquer on paper represents a distinctive handling of materials for a painting of this period.
History & Provenance
Untitled was created by Shibata Zeshin in Japan in 1837. An album leaf executed in lacquer on paper, it depicts a plant and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It measures 11.4 cm in height and 8.9 cm in width. No accession number or exhibition history is provided in the available records.
Overview
Created in 1837, this untitled work by Shibata Zeshin is an abstract composition executed on an album leaf with lacquer applied to paper. The piece presents a stark black square that appears to emit light, supporting two gold‑toned leaves and a solitary red berry, while the surrounding field remains an empty, dark expanse reminiscent of a night sky.
Subject & Meaning
The minimal arrangement suggests a single plant motif reduced to its essential elements: foliage rendered in gold and a fruit rendered in red. By isolating these components against a void, Zeshin invites contemplation of the plant’s form and vitality, emphasizing the contrast between material richness and surrounding emptiness.
Context
During the late Edo era, most Japanese artists favored ink, watercolor, or pigments on paper. Zeshin’s choice of lacquer placed him among a small group of painters exploring the durability and luminous qualities of this material, aligning his practice with broader efforts to merge traditional craft techniques with fine‑art painting.
Artist & collection
