Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink painting by the Baroque artist Yokoya Sōmin. It dates from 1716 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1716 by the Japanese painter Yokoya Sōmin, this hanging scroll rendered in ink on paper presents a solitary lion perched upon a rock. Though the work bears no formal title, it is classified as a mythological scene and exemplifies the artist’s engagement with exotic subjects that were popular in Edo‑period visual culture.
Subject & Meaning
The central figure is a lion, an animal unknown to most Japanese of the era. Rather than a ferocious predator, the creature is rendered with a gentle, almost canine demeanor, reflecting the reliance on textual descriptions and imported statuary for its visual model. The composition suggests a symbolic presence rather than a realistic portrayal.
Technique & Style
Sōmin employs swift, dark brushstrokes that outline the lion’s form with a spontaneity uncommon in earlier Chinese lion depictions, which tend toward rigidity. The ink lines are fluid and playful, conveying movement while maintaining the simplicity of a monochrome medium. The rock base is suggested with minimal marks, allowing the figure to dominate the visual field.
History & Provenance
The scroll originates from the early eighteenth‑century Edo period, a time when Japanese artists frequently incorporated foreign motifs into their repertoire. While the work’s ownership record is sparse, its survival as a hanging scroll indicates it was likely displayed in a private or temple setting, consistent with the period’s practice of collecting exotic-themed artworks.
Artist & collection
