Artwork
Untitled

Untitled is a paint painting by the Ming dynasty painting artist After Li Anzhong. It dates from 1506 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Technique & Style
The work is a hanging scroll painted in colour on silk, a support traditionally used for Chinese landscape paintings of the early sixteenth century.
The work is a hanging scroll painted in colour on silk, a support traditionally used for Chinese landscape paintings of the early sixteenth century. Its subject is a solitary goose rendered in a minimalist composition that emphasizes negative space and subtle tonal modulation. Executed circa 1506 in China, the piece reflects the stylistic conventions of the period, with delicate brushwork and a restrained palette typical of landscape genre works.
The scroll was created by an anonymous painter and is held in the Metropolitan Museum of Art collection.
History & Provenance
Untitled is a hanging scroll painted in colour on silk, classified as a landscape genre work that features a goose. The piece is attributed to an anonymous follower of the painter Li Anzhong and is dated to 1506. It is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, where it is recorded under the accession number 14.76.5.
The work was created in China, reflecting the stylistic influence of Li Anzhong's manner while remaining unsigned. No exhibition history beyond its inclusion in the museum's holdings is documented in the available sources.
Overview
This untitled hanging scroll, executed in color on silk, presents a tranquil landscape featuring two geese. Dated to 1506, the work is attributed to an artist working in the tradition of Li Anzhong, a prominent painter from the Southern Song dynasty. Its delicate execution and enduring vibrancy offer a glimpse into the refined aesthetic of Chinese scroll painting, despite the anonymity of its creator and the absence of detailed historical records.
Subject & Meaning
The painting focuses on a pair of geese positioned on a small patch of grass. One bird extends its neck upwards, while the other bends to peck at the ground, creating a dynamic yet balanced composition. In Chinese art, geese often symbolize various qualities, including marital fidelity, loyalty, and a connection to scholarly pursuits or reclusion. The depiction here suggests a moment of quiet observation within nature.
Artist & collection










