Who painted Untitled?

Untitled was painted by Shiokawa Bunrin in 1842.

Where can I see Untitled?

Untitled is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is Untitled?

Untitled is associated with Nihonga.

Artwork

Untitled

Shiokawa Bunrin , 1842

Untitled is an ink painting by the Nihonga artist Shiokawa Bunrin. It dates from 1842 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

Its composition emphasizes the bird's form and plumage, inviting contemplation of its visual qualities within the traditional Japanese artistic context.

The painting presents a single bird rendered in ink and color on silk as a hanging scroll. Created in 1842 in Japan by Shiokawa Bunrin, the work is classified within the landscape genre, with the bird as its central subject, depicted with a naturalistic focus typical of the genre. The piece is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Its composition emphasizes the bird's form and plumage, inviting contemplation of its visual qualities within the traditional Japanese artistic context.

Technique & Style

The work is executed in ink and color on silk, formatted as a hanging scroll. It is classified as a painting and belongs to the landscape genre, with a bird as its depicted subject. The scroll measures 30.5 cm in height and 41.3 cm in width.

No further details regarding specific brushwork technique, pigment composition, condition, or stylistic characterization are documented in the available sources.

History & Provenance

The work was created in 1842 by Shiokawa Bunrin, executed as a hanging scroll in ink and color on silk and made in Japan. It subsequently entered the holdings of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, where it is currently held as part of the museum's paintings collection. The institution lists the work's dimensions as 30.5 cm in height and 41.3 cm in width.

The available records do not specify an inventory or accession number, nor do they detail any past or current exhibition history for this specific piece.

Overview

Created in 1842, this hanging scroll by Shiokawa Bunrin presents a solitary white heron poised on one leg within a marshy setting. The bird is framed by gently curving reeds, while a wash of pale pink clouds occupies the distant sky, giving the composition a tranquil, atmospheric quality.

Context

During the mid‑19th century, Japanese scroll painting often focused on natural subjects, integrating poetry and visual observation. Bunrin’s choice of a heron aligns with a broader genre of bird-and-landscape works that conveyed seasonal moods and philosophical reflections within a compact, portable format.