Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a watercolor painting. It dates from 1718 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Technique & Style
Created in 1718, this anonymous work is executed in ink and opaque watercolor applied to a paper support.
Created in 1718, this anonymous work is executed in ink and opaque watercolor applied to a paper support. Originating from India, the painting measures 15.9 centimeters in height and 26 centimeters in width. The artist employs a technique characteristic of allegorical painting, utilizing opaque watercolor to define figures such as a bear, a man, a monkey, and a palanquin.
As a classified painting, the work demonstrates the formal qualities associated with Indian allegorical traditions of the early 18th century, relying on the interplay of ink outlines and colored washes to construct the narrative scene.
History & Provenance
The untitled painting was created around 1718 in India by an anonymous artist working in ink and opaque watercolor on paper. Its subject includes a bear, a man, a monkey, and a palanquin, motifs recorded in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's catalogue. The work entered the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection, where it remains on view. Its provenance beyond the museum's acquisition remains undocumented.
Overview
This untitled painting, rendered in ink and opaque watercolor on paper, presents a dynamic tableau within a rocky landscape. It depicts a lively interaction among monkeys, men, and bears, characterized by swift brushstrokes and vibrant colors. The work originates from the Punjab Hills region of northern India, though its specific creator remains unidentified.
Subject & Meaning
The artwork features a whimsical narrative where animals assume human-like roles. Monkeys and bears are shown engaging in activities typically associated with people, such as dancing, fighting, and even riding horses. This anthropomorphic portrayal was a prevalent storytelling device in the artistic traditions of the Punjab Hills, often used to convey allegories or fables.
Artist & collection
- Sugriva challenges his brother Vali, King of the Forest Dwellers, to a duel, folio 10 from the Kishkindha Kanda (Book of Kishkindha) of a Ramayana (Rama’s Journey)
Hanuman and Rama
Five Poses of Krishna Making Love, from a Bikaner Bhagavata Purana
Rama and Ravana
Krishna Steals the Clothes of the Milkmaids and Expounds on the Virtue of Trees, from a Braj Bhagavata Purana
Enthroned Rama and Sita receive homage from their monkey and bear Allies, from the Yuddha Kanda (Book of the War) of a Ramayana (Rama’s Journey)
Sugriva challenges his brother Vali, King of the Forest Dwellers, to a duel, folio 10 from the Kishkindha Kanda (Book of Kishkindha) of a Ramayana (Rama’s Journey)
Krishna Quells the Serpent Kaliya, from a Bhagavata Purana
Gods and Brahmins Worshipping Durga, from the Bhagavata Purana (3 of 3)
Bhairava Raga
Krishna asks for sweets, from a Sursagar of Surdas (Indian, c. 1480–1580)
Untitled
