Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink painting. It dates from 1649 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
Created in 1649 by an anonymous Japanese artist, this hanging scroll depicts a peafowl rendered in ink and color on paper.
Created in 1649 by an anonymous Japanese artist, this hanging scroll depicts a peafowl rendered in ink and color on paper. As a landscape genre work, the composition centers on the bird as its primary subject. While the specific symbolic intent of this particular piece is not detailed in available records, the peafowl in Japanese art of this period often carries associations with beauty, dignity, and immortality.
The work's focus on a single avian figure within a landscape setting suggests a contemplative approach to nature, characteristic of East Asian painting traditions where specific animals can embody broader philosophical or auspicious meanings.
Technique & Style
Created in 1649, this work is a hanging scroll executed in ink and color on paper. The piece depicts peafowl within a landscape genre, originating from Japan. Measuring 139.4 cm in height and 78.4 cm in width, the artwork is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The medium and support define its physical form as a traditional East Asian painting format.
History & Provenance
Created in 1649 in Japan, this hanging scroll depicts peafowl rendered in ink and color on paper. The work was produced by an anonymous artist, with no specific commission or creation narrative recorded in available documentation. The painting eventually entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is currently held. Physical dimensions are recorded as 139.4 cm in height and 78.4 cm in width.
Overview
This hanging scroll, executed in ink and color on paper, depicts a peacock perched on a rock with its tail fully displayed in vivid blues and greens. A smaller bird is shown on a bare branch behind the peacock, while a gentle mist fills the background, creating a layered composition typical of Japanese scroll painting.
Context
Peacock imagery entered Japanese visual culture through Chinese influence, becoming a favored decorative element in the decorative arts of the Edo period. This piece aligns with that tradition, integrating naturalistic detail with symbolic resonance, and reflects the broader aesthetic of refined, contemplative interior art.
Artist & collection
- 「三ひらの内」松・牡丹に孔雀|Peacock on Pine Tree and Peonies, from the series Three Sheets (Mihira no uchi)
Untitled
Untitled
Untitled
Painted Panel of Character "Recite"
Untitled
Myriad Birds, Insects and Flowers
Painted Panel of Character "Recite"
Untitled
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Untitled
Copy of Painting inside the Caves of Ajanta (cave 2)
