Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an unspecified painting by the Romanticist artist Shibata Zeshin. It dates from 1837 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1837, this untitled work by Shibata Zeshin is executed on an album leaf using lacquer applied to paper. The composition is framed by a beige field edged with a thin gold border, within which a decorative bowl holds a modest botanical grouping.
Subject & Meaning
The central motif consists of a dominant green foliage element accompanied by several smaller plants, arranged in a simple yet deliberate manner. The bowl, rendered with a cracked surface pattern, suggests a rustic or aged vessel, inviting contemplation of natural growth within a man‑made container.
Technique & Style
Zeshin employed traditional Japanese lacquer techniques, layering pigment and lacquer to achieve a glossy, durable surface on the delicate paper support. The red seal in the lower left corner authenticates the piece, while the lacquer’s translucency allows subtle tonal variations in the foliage and bowl texture.
History & Provenance
The work originates from the late Edo period, a time when lacquer painting on paper was a specialized practice among Japanese artists. As an album leaf, it would have been part of a collection of small, portable works, likely circulated among connoisseurs of the era.
Artist & collection
