Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink painting by the Romanticist artist Suzuki Kiitsu. It dates from 1850 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
Created in 1850 by Suzuki Kiitsu, this hanging scroll presents a still life composition executed in ink and color on silk.
Created in 1850 by Suzuki Kiitsu, this hanging scroll presents a still life composition executed in ink and color on silk. The visual subject matter is strictly limited to natural elements, specifically depicting flowers, plants, and an insect.
As an untitled work within the still life genre, the painting focuses on the direct representation of these botanical and entomological forms without additional narrative context or explicit symbolic program indicated in available records. The iconography relies on the realistic portrayal of flora and fauna native to Japan, where the work was produced.
Technique & Style
The work is a hanging scroll executed in ink with polychrome washes on silk, a format typical of Edo‑period Japanese painting. It portrays a still‑life of flowers, an insect and other plant elements, rendered with the delicate line work and subtle color modulation associated with Suzuki Kiitsu’s style. The composition balances negative space with the clustered botanical motifs, creating a harmonious visual rhythm.
The piece is part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection and was created in Japan in 1850.
History & Provenance
The painting was created in 1850 by Suzuki Kiitsu, executed as a hanging scroll in ink and color on silk in Japan. It depicts flowers, insects, and plants in a still-life arrangement.
The work is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it remains located. No further details regarding its commission, prior ownership, or chain of custody before entering the museum's collection are documented in the available sources.
Overview
This hanging scroll, titled Untitled, was created by Suzuki Kiitsu around 1850. Executed with ink and color on silk, the painting presents a vibrant still life. It features a lively arrangement of various insects, such as crickets and dragonflies, amidst climbing morning glories and a bamboo trellis. This work exemplifies the artist's approach to nature studies during the late Edo period.
Context
Created in the final decades of Japan's Edo period, around 1850, this painting reflects artistic trends of its era. During this time, many artists sought to integrate detailed, accurate portrayals of the natural world with a more imaginative and spirited handling of their medium. Kiitsu's Untitled stands as an example of this synthesis, blending realism with an engaging aesthetic.
Artist & collection
粟に燕図|Millet and Sparrows
Amaranthus and Mynah Bird
Summer Flowers
Autumn Flowers
清原雪信筆 緋連雀桜竹図|Waxwings, Cherry Blossoms, and Bamboo
Untitled
The Third Princess and a Cat, from the "New Herbs I" (Wakana I) chapter The Tale of Genji (Genji monogatari}
Narcissi and Chimonanthus
明仇英水仙蠟梅 軸
Hollyhocks and Prince’s-Feather Flowers
Quail, Sparrows, and Millet- Untitled