Who painted Untitled?

Untitled was painted by Shunsō Joshu in early 19th century.

Where can I see Untitled?

Untitled is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is Untitled?

Untitled is associated with Nihonga.

Untitled by Shunsō Joshu (early 19th century)

Accession no.: 2015.500.9.58
Credit line: Gift of Florence and Herbert Irving, 2015

About this work

Subject & Meaning

Created by Shunsō Joshu in 1816, the hanging scroll presents this solitary religious practitioner as its primary subject.

The work depicts a single male figure identified as a monk, consistent with its classification as a religious painting. Created by Shunsō Joshu in 1816, the hanging scroll presents this solitary religious practitioner as its primary subject. The iconography focuses entirely on the human form of the monk, rendered in ink on paper without additional narrative scenery or symbolic objects noted in the available records.

As a religious genre piece, the image represents the figure of the monk himself, serving as a devotional or meditative focus rather than illustrating a specific mythological event.

Technique & Style

Created in 1816, this work is a hanging scroll executed in ink on paper. The piece measures 99.1 cm in height and 27.9 cm in width. As a religious painting, the formal style focuses on the depiction of a monk or man, utilizing traditional ink techniques on a paper support. The artwork is currently held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

History & Provenance

Created in 1816 by the artist Shunsō Joshu, this hanging scroll executed in ink on paper originated in Japan. The work, which depicts a monk, entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is currently held. While the specific circumstances of its commission and the details of its ownership chain prior to museum acquisition are not detailed in the available records, the piece is firmly dated to the early nineteenth century based on institutional documentation.

The 1816 hanging scroll Untitled by Shunsō Joshu is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. The work, which depicts a monk, measures 99.1 cm in height and 27.9 cm in width. While the piece is recorded as part of the museum's holdings, the provided sources do not contain specific inventory or accession numbers, nor do they list any past exhibitions for this artwork.

Overview

Shunsō Joshu's Untitled, created in 1816, is an ink-on-paper hanging scroll. This painting depicts a solitary monk ascending a steep, winding path beneath a bare tree. The composition emphasizes a sense of movement and transience, with the figure appearing to continue his journey beyond the frame.

Its minimalist aesthetic and delicate brushwork characterize this work, reflecting a contemplative approach to its religious subject matter.