Who painted 室内風俗図屏風|Interior Scene with Books and Writing Implements?

室内風俗図屏風|Interior Scene with Books and Writing Implements was painted by Unknown in 1640.

Where can I see 室内風俗図屏風|Interior Scene with Books and Writing Implements?

室内風俗図屏風|Interior Scene with Books and Writing Implements is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is 室内風俗図屏風|Interior Scene with Books and Writing Implements?

室内風俗図屏風|Interior Scene with Books and Writing Implements is associated with Baroque.

Artwork

室内風俗図屏風|Interior Scene with Books and Writing Implements

Unknown , 1640

室内風俗図屏風|Interior Scene with Books and Writing Implements is an ink painting by the Baroque artist Unknown. It dates from 1640 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The work is a two‑panel folding screen painted with ink, color and gold leaf on paper.

About this work

Overview

The work is a two‑panel folding screen painted with ink, color and gold leaf on paper. It depicts an interior setting where a woman, seated on a red box, rests her head on her arm. She wears a white robe highlighted with red accents, while the surrounding space is filled with black‑shelved books, writing tools, a vase of flowers and a bowl, all set against a warm gold background.

Subject & Meaning

The composition presents a quiet, domestic study, emphasizing the contemplative atmosphere of reading or writing. The woman's relaxed posture and the orderly arrangement of scholarly objects suggest a focus on intellectual leisure and the refined habits of a cultured interior.

Technique & Style

Executed with ink outlines, subtle pigments and applied gold leaf, the screen balances simplicity with decorative richness. The artist employs restrained shapes and muted tonal values, allowing the gold background to lend a sense of understated luxury without overwhelming the scene.

History & Provenance

The piece is identified as a Japanese interior genre screen, traditionally used as a decorative partition. Its medium of ink, color and gold leaf on paper aligns with Edo‑period screen painting practices, though specific dates and ownership records are not provided.

Context

Such interior genre scenes were popular in Japanese art for illustrating everyday refined life, often displayed in aristocratic or scholarly settings. The inclusion of books and writing implements reflects the cultural value placed on learning and literary pursuits during the period.