Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink painting by the Chinese Orthodox School artist After Huang Qüan. It dates from 1506 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
- Accession no.
- 47.18.143
About this work
Subject & Meaning
Executed in ink and color on silk, the piece belongs to the landscape genre and is currently held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
The artwork, an album leaf created in 1506 and attributed to a follower of Huang Quan, depicts a lotus flower. Executed in ink and color on silk, the piece belongs to the landscape genre and is currently held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art. While the specific symbolic interpretation of the lotus within this particular anonymous composition is not detailed in the available records, the subject matter itself is a prominent motif in Chinese art.
The inclusion of the lotus suggests a focus on natural beauty and potentially traditional associations with purity, though the work is primarily identified by its depiction of the flower rather than a complex narrative iconography.
Technique & Style
The work is an album‑leaf painting executed in ink and polychrome on silk, a format typical of Chinese albums from the early sixteenth century. Measuring approximately 22.2 cm by 24.1 cm, it was created in China around 1506 and depicts a lotus blossom. The piece is part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection (accession 47.18.143) and is catalogued as a painting by an anonymous follower of Huang Quan.
Its surface shows delicate brushwork and subtle color washes that emphasize the translucency of the silk support, while the composition follows traditional spatial recession through layered foliage.
History & Provenance
The work titled Untitled is an album leaf painted in ink and color on silk, depicting a lotus, and is attributed to an anonymous painter working after the style of Huang Quan. It was created in China in 1506 and entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, where it is catalogued under accession number 47.18.143, measuring 22.2 × 24.1 cm. The sources do not record earlier owners or commission details, and no exhibition history is documented.
Overview
This untitled album leaf, rendered in ink and color on silk, dates to 1506. It presents a serene depiction of lotus flowers and leaves resting on water. While attributed to "After Huang Qüan," the precise artist remains unknown, though the work reflects the refined aesthetic associated with court painting traditions. Its small scale suggests it was intended for intimate viewing and contemplation.
Context
The depiction of flowers, particularly the lotus, holds a significant place within Chinese painting history. Artists frequently transformed floral subjects into visual expressions of poetic sentiment and philosophical ideas. This untitled work aligns with a tradition where such botanical studies served not merely as naturalistic representations but as vehicles for deeper cultural and spiritual contemplation.
Artist & collection
