Artwork

Untitled

Untitled is an ink painting. It dates from 1639 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

The inclusion of drinking vessels suggests a narrative context linked to social or celebratory customs, possibly a gathering or journey.

The handscroll depicts a man on horseback alongside another figure, emphasizing equestrian activity as a central theme. The inclusion of drinking vessels suggests a narrative context linked to social or celebratory customs, possibly a gathering or journey. The pairing of figures with a horse underscores themes of travel or companionship, while the refined brushwork and silk support indicate a work designed for leisurely perusal, aligning with literati tastes of the period.

Technique & Style

The work is a handscroll painted in ink and color on silk, measuring approximately 21.6 cm in height by 233.7 cm in width. Its support is silk, and the format is designed to be unrolled gradually for viewing. The composition belongs to the genre-scene category and depicts a drinking party with equestrian figures, a horse and a man, reflecting seventeenth-century Chinese leisure activities.

An anonymous painting in the Metropolitan Museum of Art collection, it exemplifies ink wash combined with subtle polychrome accents, with fluid brushwork and a balanced spatial arrangement.

History & Provenance

The work titled Untitled is documented as a 1639 handscroll painted in ink and color on silk in China by an anonymous artist. It is held in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, which records it as part of its collection. No commissioning patron or explicit ownership chain prior to museum acquisition is noted in the available sources, and the artist remains unidentified.

The work depicts a drinking scene with a horse and rider, aligning with genre-scene conventions of the period.

Overview

This untitled painting, rendered as a handscroll, utilizes ink and color on silk. It presents a dynamic scene populated by men engaged in drinking and various horses. The artwork's detailed composition and vibrant palette suggest a narrative intended for close, sequential observation, characteristic of the handscroll format.