Artwork
明 林良 二鷹圖 軸|Two hawks in a thicket
明 林良 二鷹圖 軸|Two hawks in a thicket is an ink painting by the Ming dynasty painting artist Lin Liang. It dates from 1448 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1448 during the Ming dynasty, this hanging scroll by Lin Liang presents a quiet natural scene. Rendered in ink and color on silk, the work measures the traditional format of Chinese scroll painting and focuses on two hawks settled within a dense thicket.
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on a pair of hawks, each perched among tangled branches. Their poised stances and attentive gazes suggest a moment of watchfulness, inviting contemplation of the birds’ role as both predators and symbols of vigilance in Chinese visual culture.
Technique & Style
Lin Liang employs a combination of vigorous brushstrokes and finer, more restrained lines to delineate feather texture and foliage. The contrast between bold outlines and subtle washes creates a sense of spatial depth, while the use of color accents highlights the birds against the muted background.
History & Provenance
The scroll originates from the mid‑15th‑century Ming court, a period when ink-and-color paintings on silk were prized for their refined elegance. It remains attributed to Lin Liang, a noted painter of the era, and is documented in several catalogues of Ming artworks.
Artist & collection
