Artwork

Untitled

Untitled, ink, 1777
Untitled, ink, 1777

Untitled is an ink painting. It dates from 1777 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

As an anonymous piece mounted as an album leaf, the imagery focuses on these tangible elements of a riverside or coastal environment.

Created in China in 1777, this ink and color work on silk presents a landscape scene. The composition specifically depicts a boat, a tree, and the act of fishing. As an anonymous piece mounted as an album leaf, the imagery focuses on these tangible elements of a riverside or coastal environment.

The available records identify the genre strictly as landscape painting, centering on the visual representation of these natural and human activities without further elaboration on specific allegorical meanings or complex iconographic programs beyond the literal depiction of the fishing vessel and surrounding flora.

Technique & Style

The work is a Chinese fan leaf mounted as an album leaf, executed in ink and polychrome pigments on silk. It dates to 1777 and measures approximately 27.6 cm by 25.1 cm. The painting belongs to the landscape genre and portrays a modest scene of a boat, a fisherman, and a tree. Executed in China, the piece employs delicate brushwork and a restrained palette typical of 18th‑century fan paintings, with the silk support providing a smooth, flexible surface.

No specific conservation issues are recorded, and the work is part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art collection.

History & Provenance

Created in China in 1777, this untitled landscape painting was executed by an anonymous artist. The work is rendered in ink and color on silk and is formatted as a fan mounted as an album leaf. The piece is currently held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art (accession number 13.220.99k).

The work titled Untitled, created in 1777 by an unknown artist, is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Its accession number is 13.220.99k. The piece is classified as a painting, specifically a fan mounted as an album leaf executed in ink and color on silk, depicting a landscape with boats, fishing scenes, and trees.

While the sources confirm its current location and inventory details within the museum, no specific exhibition history or past display records are documented in the provided materials.

Overview

This untitled painting presents a vibrant landscape scene, rendered with ink and color on silk. Originally conceived on a fan, it has since been mounted as an album leaf, showcasing a detailed depiction of nature and human activity. The artwork's unique support material contributes to its distinctive character within the realm of traditional painting.

Context

This artwork exemplifies a particular style of painting that can be further explored through broader collections. Institutions such as The Metropolitan Museum of Art house extensive holdings of similar works, providing a wider perspective on the artistic traditions and techniques employed in pieces like this untitled landscape.

Paintings after Ancient Masters: Scholars in a Garden
Paintings after Ancient Masters: Scholars in a Garden, Chen Hongshou

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 Baroque.