Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink painting by the Baroque artist Ogata Kōrin. It dates from 1687 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1687, this work by Ogata Kōrin presents a solitary flower rendered in ink and color on paper. Originally painted on the surface of a folding fan, the piece was later reconfigured as a hanging scroll, preserving the fan’s curved edge as a visual element within the composition.
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on a single red‑and‑white blossom set against a gold ground, its petals rendered in flattened, almost cut‑paper shapes. The stark contrast and stylized form emphasize the decorative potential of natural motifs, a hallmark of Kōrin’s aesthetic.
Technique & Style
Kōrin employed ink outlines combined with colored pigments to achieve bold, graphic planes. The flattened petals and the retention of the fan’s curvature reflect the Rinpa school’s preference for decorative abstraction and the use of gold as a luminous backdrop.
History & Provenance
The piece began as a functional fan before being remounted as a scroll, a transformation that reveals later collectors’ interest in preserving and displaying the artwork in a more formal context. Its survival in this altered format indicates continued appreciation for Kōrin’s decorative designs.
Context
Working in the late 17th and early 18th centuries, Kōrin contributed to a range of decorative arts, from lacquerware to textiles, often collaborating with his brother Kenzan, a noted potter. This still life reflects the broader Rinpa emphasis on stylized nature motifs across varied media.
Artist & collection
Artist
Ogata Kōrin (Japanese: 尾形光琳; 1658 – June 2, 1716) was a Japanese landscape illustrator, lacquerer, painter, and textile designer of the Rinpa School.
