Artwork

芥子園畫傳|Seeds and Aleurities Cordata (?): Page from The Mustard Seed Garden Manual of Painting (Jieziyuan huazhuan)

芥子園畫傳|Seeds and Aleurities Cordata (?): Page from The Mustard Seed Garden Manual of Painting (Jieziyuan huazhuan) is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Dao Cheng. It dates from 1782 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This polychrome woodblock print is a page from The Mustard Seed Garden Manual of Painting, a renowned painting manual.

About this work

Overview

This polychrome woodblock print is a page from The Mustard Seed Garden Manual of Painting, a renowned painting manual. Created in 1782, it is attributed to Dao Cheng.

Subject & Meaning

The print depicts a small bird perched on a branch with green leaves and reddish buds. The plain background highlights the subject. The accompanying Chinese characters on the right likely provide attribution or a title.

Technique & Style

The artist employed simple shapes and bold colors to convey the bird's liveliness. The use of color and form creates a striking image.

History & Provenance

The print is held at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. It is part of a larger work, The Mustard Seed Garden Manual of Painting.