Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink painting. It dates from 1785 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The specific arrangement of the man, bridge, and stream establishes the work's primary iconographic focus on human presence within a tranquil natural world.
Created by the Tosa School in 1785, this set of album leaf paintings depicts a serene landscape scene rendered in ink and color on paper. The composition centers on a small figure of a man traversing a bridge that spans a flowing stream. While the work presents a straightforward natural setting, the inclusion of the solitary traveler suggests a contemplative engagement with the environment, a common motif in Japanese landscape traditions.
The imagery relies on the interplay between the constructed element of the bridge and the organic forms of the water and surrounding nature to evoke a sense of quiet passage or journey. The specific arrangement of the man, bridge, and stream establishes the work's primary iconographic focus on human presence within a tranquil natural world.
Technique & Style
Created in 1785 by the Tosa School, this work consists of a set of album leaf paintings executed in ink and color on paper shikishi supports. The dimensions of the leaves are recorded as 23.8 cm in height and 17.3 cm in width. Stylistically, the piece functions as a landscape genre painting, depicting a scene that includes a bridge, a stream, and a human figure.
The application of both ink and pigment on the paper surface characterizes the medium, adhering to traditional Japanese album formats. The work originates from Japan and is currently held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
History & Provenance
The untitled work was produced in Japan in 1785 by the Tosa School as part of a set of album leaf paintings executed in ink and color on paper (shikishi). Its creation is documented in the internal catalogue, which records the artist as Tosa School and the date as 1785. According to the available records, the painting entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it remains.
The work measures 23.8 cm by 17.3 cm and depicts a bridge, a man, and a stream. No commission details are recorded.
Context
The painting is understood as a representative example of late-Edo period Japanese landscape art, reflecting the Tosa School's tradition of combining poetic narrative with precise naturalistic detail. Its depiction of a solitary figure crossing a bridge over a stream aligns with the school's emphasis on harmonious composition and seasonal mood. It has been part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection since its acquisition.
Overview
This untitled painting, created by the Tosa School in 1785, is an ink and color work on a shikishi album leaf. It presents a tranquil landscape scene, featuring two figures traversing a wooden bridge over a narrow stream. As part of an album, this small-scale painting was designed for intimate viewing, intended to be held and appreciated up close rather than displayed on a wall.
Artist & collection
- Courtesan and Attendant
Courtesan and Attendant
The Fourth Month (from the series Fashionable Monthly Visits to Temples in the Four Seasons)
Beauties at the Seashore
Lady Murasaki at Ishiyama Overlooking a Panorama with Eight Views of Lake Biwa
Two Lovers (from the series Brocades of the East in Fashion)
Illustrated Legends of the Origins of the Kumano Shrines (Kumano engi emaki)
Untitled
Scenes from The Tale of Genji (Genji monogatari)
The Legendary Empress Jingū
The Salt Maidens, Murasame with Yukihira's Hat
Beauties at the Seashore
