Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink painting by the Baroque artist Wang Li Mu. It dates from 1749 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
Created in 1749 by Wang Li Mu, this album leaf presents a portrait of a solitary man positioned at a table.
Created in 1749 by Wang Li Mu, this album leaf presents a portrait of a solitary man positioned at a table. Executed in ink and color on silk, the composition focuses strictly on the human figure and the immediate furniture, omitting elaborate background scenery or contextual narrative. The work functions as a straightforward representation of an individual, likely intended to capture the sitter's likeness or social standing through the formal genre of portraiture.
No additional symbolic elements, allegorical figures, or complex iconographic programs are evident in the surviving description of the piece, which relies on the direct depiction of the subject and his immediate surroundings to convey its meaning.
Technique & Style
Created in 1749, this work is an album leaf executed in ink and color on a silk support. The artist, Wang Li Mu, employs traditional painting techniques to render a portrait of a man seated at a table. The composition is contained within a rectangular format measuring 35.2 cm in height and 31.1 cm in width.
The handling of ink and pigment on the silk creates a formal style consistent with the genre of portraiture, focusing on the depiction of the figure and the associated furniture.
History & Provenance
Created in 1749, this album leaf titled Untitled was executed by the artist Wang Li Mu. The work, rendered in ink and color on silk, depicts a man seated at a table. It currently resides in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is cataloged under the accession number 15.97.2.
No further details regarding its commission, earlier ownership history, or specific creation circumstances are provided in the available records.
The artwork is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It is identified within the museum's records by the accession number 15.97.2. The provided sources confirm the work's location and inventory designation but do not contain specific details regarding its exhibition history.
Overview
This untitled album leaf, created by Wang Li Mu in 1749, employs ink and color on silk. It presents a quiet interior scene, characteristic of works intended for personal contemplation rather than public display. The painting captures a solitary figure engaged in scholarly pursuits, reflecting a common theme in East Asian art. Its small scale and intimate subject matter suggest a private viewing experience.
Context
This artwork belongs to a tradition of paintings intended for private appreciation rather than grand public display. Such album leaves often circulated among scholars and connoisseurs, offering intimate glimpses into intellectual life. The depiction of a scholar at work resonates with similar themes explored by Korean artists of the period, who frequently celebrated the virtues of study and contemplation.
Artist & collection
Artist
Wang Li Mu painted delicate album leaves on silk in the 18th century, using ink and color to capture small, quiet moments.
