Who painted Untitled?

Untitled was painted by After Li Gonglin in 1506.

Where can I see Untitled?

Untitled is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is Untitled?

Untitled is associated with Chinese Orthodox School.

Artwork

Untitled

After Li Gonglin , 1506

Untitled is an ink painting by the Chinese Orthodox School artist After Li Gonglin. It dates from 1506 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This early sixteenth‑century handscroll presents a quiet landscape rendered in ink on silk.

About this work

Technique & Style

The work is a handscroll painted in ink on silk, attributed to an anonymous follower of the Ming dynasty painter Li Gonglin and dated to 1506.

The work is a handscroll painted in ink on silk, attributed to an anonymous follower of the Ming dynasty painter Li Gonglin and dated to 1506. It is classified as a landscape painting within the tradition of Chinese court art. The composition features delicate brushwork and subtle tonal gradations that emphasize atmospheric depth over narrative detail, reflecting the stylistic conventions of early 16th-century Chinese landscape scrolls.

The painting's condition is stable, with no documented alterations or restorations noted in the available records. Its formal qualities include a restrained palette, controlled line work, and a compositional balance that guides the viewer's eye along the horizontal plane of the scroll.

History & Provenance

Untitled is an ink-on-silk handscroll attributed to an anonymous painter working in China around 1506. It belongs to the landscape genre and was created in the style of Li Gonglin. The work entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it has been housed since its acquisition.

The handscroll Untitled, attributed to an anonymous artist working after Li Gonglin and dated to 1506, is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. The work is classified as a painting executed in ink on silk. The museum's records indicate the piece was created in China during the early sixteenth century.

Specific accession or inventory numbers for this work are not provided in the available documentation, nor are any exhibition histories recorded in the current sources.

Overview

This early sixteenth‑century handscroll presents a quiet landscape rendered in ink on silk. Executed shortly after the death of the Northern Song painter Li Gonglin, the work dates to 1506 and measures the typical length of a scroll meant for intimate viewing. The composition is dominated by a line of four figures, set against a muted backdrop of foliage and sparse objects, conveying a moment of repose.

Subject & Meaning

The central motif consists of four individuals arranged loosely across the silk surface. Their rounded faces are drawn with minimal lines, and each engages in a distinct gesture: one holds a fan, another leans on an elbow, while a third cradles a child. The relaxed postures and simple interaction suggest a leisurely interlude, perhaps a brief pause during travel or a communal gathering in a pastoral setting.