Untitled

Scholarship on the 1798 hanging scroll Untitled identifies it as an anonymous work within the history‑painting genre, reflecting Qing‑era practices of collective authorship and narrative composition. The painting, executed in ink and color on silk, depicts a horse, a king and a man, motifs that have been linked to contemporary courtly symbolism. Its classification as a painting in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection underscores its importance as a rare example of late‑18th‑century Chinese scroll art preserved outside East Asia.

Critical discussion highlights the work’s ambiguous authorship and its role in illustrating the transmission of courtly imagery through private patronage.

This untitled painting, rendered in ink and color on silk, depicts a dynamic equestrian scene. Presented as a hanging scroll, the artwork features two figures on horseback, distinguished by their robes, one red and one blue. The composition captures a moment of vigorous movement, suggesting a journey or a hunt, characteristic of historical Korean painting traditions.

The central figure, clad in vibrant red robes, is identified as a king from Korea’s Joseon dynasty. His presence on horseback, alongside another rider in blue, suggests a narrative of royal procession, military engagement, or perhaps a leisure activity like hunting. Such depictions often served to glorify the monarch or to record significant historical events during the period.