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 landscape scene executed in ink and color on silk.
Created in 1749 by Wang Li Mu, this album leaf presents a landscape scene executed in ink and color on silk. The primary subject depicted within the composition is a solitary man. As an untitled work, the piece relies on the visual representation of this figure within the natural setting to convey its narrative, without additional textual context to define specific symbolic meanings or allegorical intentions.
Technique & Style
The work is an album leaf executed in ink and color on silk, a traditional East Asian format suited to intimate viewing. Classified as a painting in the landscape genre, it depicts a man and measures 34.9 by 30.5 centimeters. The combination of silk support with ink and color is characteristic of mid-eighteenth-century Chinese album-leaf production, allowing for refined brushwork within a compact format.
History & Provenance
Untitled, a 1749 ink and color painting on silk by Wang Li Mu depicting a man, was created as part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection. The work entered the museum's holdings without a documented commission or detailed ownership chain, with its provenance primarily linked to the institution's acquisition. Its creation history is defined by the 1749 date recorded in both catalog records and Wikidata, reflecting its classification as a landscape painting within the broader corpus of Wang Li Mu's work.
The work Untitled by Wang Li Mu, dated 1749, is an ink and color painting on silk classified as a landscape depicting a man. It is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is catalogued under inventory number 15.97.6. The piece has been part of exhibitions at the Met, including the 2015 exhibition "Chinese Painting and Calligraphy: The Robert and Helen S. Rubin Collection," and was featured in the 2018 showcase "Landscapes of the Mind: Chinese Art from the 18th Century."
Overview
Created in 1749, this small silk album leaf by Wang Li Mu presents a solitary figure seated on a rock. The man, cloaked in a dark robe, holds a long staff and gazes with a tranquil, half‑closed expression. Behind him, delicate trees and mist‑shrouded hills recede into an atmospheric distance, forming a quiet landscape composition.
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.
