Artwork

Untitled

Untitled, ink, 1916
Untitled, ink, 1916

Untitled is an ink painting. It dates from 1916 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

As a still-life genre piece, the screen invites contemplation on the quiet dignity of everyday objects within an interior setting.

The 1916 ten-panel folding screen titled Untitled presents a still-life composition rendered in ink and color on silk. The work depicts three specific objects: a book, a clock, and a vase, arranged to form a cohesive visual narrative. While the artist remains unidentified, the selection of these items suggests a thematic focus on domestic life, the passage of time, and the accumulation of knowledge or culture.

The inclusion of a clock often alludes to the transience of moments, while the book and vase may symbolize intellectual pursuit and aesthetic refinement respectively. As a still-life genre piece, the screen invites contemplation on the quiet dignity of everyday objects within an interior setting.

Technique & Style

Untitled is a ten‑panel folding screen dated 1916, constructed as a painted support of silk. The work is executed in ink and color, placing it within the painting genre of still life. Its composition depicts a book, a clock and a vase, arranging everyday objects in a flattened, decorative format typical of screen painting.

The use of silk as a flexible support allows the panels to fold and unfold, influencing both the handling and the visual rhythm of the piece. The limited palette of ink and color contributes to a restrained tonal harmony, while the repeated motifs of book, clock and vase create a rhythmic pattern across the panels.

History & Provenance

The work is dated to 1916 based on curatorial records at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it entered the collection as accession number 2005.385 in 2005. Its creation history situates it within early twentieth-century still-life traditions on silk, executed as a ten-panel folding screen using ink and color. The artist remains unidentified, and no documented commission or original ownership history prior to the museum acquisition has been published.

The ten-panel folding screen titled Untitled, dated to 1916, is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. The work was acquired by the museum and assigned the accession number 2005.385. Created by an unidentified artist using ink and color on silk, the piece is classified within the museum's paintings department.

While the provided sources confirm its current location and specific inventory number, they do not list any past or future exhibition history for this specific object. The artwork depicts a still life arrangement featuring a book, a clock, and a vase.

Overview

This untitled painting is rendered on a ten-panel folding screen, utilizing ink and color on silk. The artwork presents a diverse array of objects, including various fruits, tables, and clocks. Its expansive format allows for a complex visual narrative, where each panel contributes to a larger composition while also featuring distinct elements.

Context

The format of a ten-panel folding screen is characteristic of certain East Asian painting traditions, providing a large surface for narrative or decorative display. The presence of Korean scenes suggests a regional focus within the broader artistic practice. Further examples of comparable artworks can be found within the collections of The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

狩野探幽・狩野尚信・清原雪信 花鳥図屏風|Birds and Flowers
狩野探幽・狩野尚信・清原雪信 花鳥図屏風|Birds and Flowers, Kano Tan'yū

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.