About this work

Technique & Style

The work remains a representative example of seventeenth-century Chinese painting techniques preserved within the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Created in 1639, this anonymous Chinese work is executed as an album leaf using ink and color applied to a silk support. The piece measures 19.1 centimeters in height and 29.2 centimeters in width, adhering to the traditional format of portable landscape painting. Stylistically, the artist employs a landscape genre to depict a scene containing a goose, a horse, and a man.

The medium of ink and color on silk allows for the delicate rendering typical of the period, while the small, rectangular dimensions suggest its original function as part of a bound collection rather than a large-scale wall hanging. The work remains a representative example of seventeenth-century Chinese painting techniques preserved within the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

History & Provenance

The album leaf titled Untitled, created in 1639, is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. While the museum's records confirm the work's presence in its holdings, the provided sources do not specify a unique inventory or accession number for this piece. The artwork, an anonymous Chinese painting on silk depicting a man, a horse, and a goose, measures 19.1 cm in height and 29.2 cm in width.

The available documentation does not list any specific exhibition history for this work, noting only its status as a painting by an unknown artist within the museum's broader collection of landscape art.

Overview

This untitled album leaf, rendered with ink and color on silk, presents a tranquil genre scene. The composition features a trio of figures, two men and a single goose, alongside a prominent horse. The artwork's modest scale suggests it was intended for close contemplation, typical of album format paintings. Its bright palette and detailed rendering contribute to its visual appeal.

Subject & Meaning

The painting depicts two robed men engaged in conversation, their forms rendered with attention to drapery. Nearby, a lone goose walks, while a tall horse stands attentively, completing the small gathering. The interaction between the figures and animals is understated, suggesting an everyday moment rather than a grand narrative. The simplicity of the scene invites viewers to observe the quiet interactions.