Artwork

Untitled

Untitled is an ink painting. It dates from 1506 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This hanging scroll, executed with ink and color on silk, presents a richly detailed scene set in a Chinese interior.

Accession no.: 13.100.31
Credit line: John Stewart Kennedy Fund, 1913

About this work

Subject & Meaning

Created in 1506 by an anonymous Chinese artist, this hanging scroll depicts a male figure alongside a phoenix.

Created in 1506 by an anonymous Chinese artist, this hanging scroll depicts a male figure alongside a phoenix. Executed in ink and color on silk, the work is classified within the genre of mythology. The pairing of a human subject with the legendary bird suggests a narrative rooted in traditional lore, where the phoenix often serves as a potent symbol of virtue, grace, or auspicious beginnings.

While the specific identity of the man remains unrecorded in available documentation, his presence next to the mythical creature establishes a clear iconographic focus on the intersection of the human and the divine.

Technique & Style

Created in 1506 in China, this anonymous work is executed as a hanging scroll using ink and color on a silk support. The painting measures 48.6 cm in height and 38.7 cm in width. Stylistically, the composition depicts a male figure alongside a phoenix, adhering to themes found in mythology.

The application of pigment and ink on the delicate silk surface characterizes the piece's material presence within the genre.

History & Provenance

The hanging scroll known as Untitled was created in China in 1506 by an anonymous artist. Executed in ink and color on silk, the work depicts a man and a phoenix within a mythological genre. The piece is currently held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Its precise accession number is not recorded in the available documentation, and no dedicated exhibition record has been identified for this piece.

Overview

This hanging scroll, executed with ink and color on silk, presents a richly detailed scene set in a Chinese interior. Central to the composition is a stylized phoenix, surrounded by figures of men, all rendered with elaborate decorative motifs on clothing and surrounding objects. The work exemplifies the intricate visual language typical of traditional Chinese narrative painting.

Context

While the scroll’s precise date and provenance are not recorded, its format and subject align with works produced for elite patrons during the Ming and Qing dynasties, when silk scrolls were favored for private contemplation and display. The inclusion of a phoenix and courtly figures situates the piece within the visual traditions that celebrated imperial symbolism and refined taste.