Artwork

Untitled

Untitled, paint, 1849
Untitled, paint, 1849

Untitled is a paint painting. It dates from 1849 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

The work depicts a naturalistic arrangement featuring a butterfly and a flower, executed on pith paper as part of a twelve-leaf album.

The work depicts a naturalistic arrangement featuring a butterfly and a flower, executed on pith paper as part of a twelve-leaf album. Created in China in 1849 by an unknown artist, the imagery falls within the still-life genre. While the specific symbolic intent of the anonymous creator remains undocumented in the available records, the composition centers on these two distinct natural elements.

The butterfly and flower are presented without additional narrative context or human figures, focusing the viewer's attention on the delicate forms and colors of the flora and fauna. The piece represents a study of nature typical of the period and location, capturing the ephemeral beauty of the subjects through the medium of color on pith paper.

Technique & Style

Created in 1849, this anonymous work is executed as an album comprising twelve leaves. The artist applied color pigments directly onto pith paper, a distinctive support material associated with Chinese painting traditions of the period. As a still-life piece, the composition formally depicts butterflies and flowers.

The handling of the medium on the delicate pith surface reflects specific technical choices characteristic of the era's decorative arts. The work remains part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection, preserving the original condition of the color-on-pith format.

History & Provenance

Untitled is an anonymous Chinese painting dated to 1849, recorded as part of an album of twelve leaves executed in color on pith paper. The work belongs to the still‑life genre and portrays a butterfly alongside a flower. According to the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s catalogue, the piece entered the museum’s collection and remains on view at its New York location.

Its creation is attributed to an unidentified painter working in China, with the inception date recorded as 1849‑01‑01. No documentation of a commission or subsequent owners prior to its acquisition by the Met is available.

The untitled album of twelve leaves, created in 1849 by an anonymous artist, is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. While the specific accession number is not provided in the available records, the work is classified as a painting on pith paper depicting butterflies and flowers. The piece is attributed to a location in China and dates to the year 1849.

No exhibition history or specific inventory number is documented in the provided sources, though the work remains part of the museum's permanent holdings as a painting by an anonymous creator.

Overview

This Untitled artwork is part of an album comprising twelve leaves, executed with color on pith paper. The painting depicts an arrangement of various flowers, including tulips and roses, accompanied by butterflies, all presented within a blue vase featuring a subtle white decorative pattern. The use of a delicate, plant-derived material for the support is a notable characteristic of this piece.

Untitled
Untitled, After Yun Shouping

Artist & collection

Frequently asked questions

Where can I see Untitled?

Untitled is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is Untitled?

Untitled is associated with Mexican Casta Painting.