Artwork
Cat and Butterfly
Cat and Butterfly is an unspecified painting by the Qing dynasty painting artist Min Zhen. It dates from 1788 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
You see a small black-and-white painting of a cat crouched low, eyes locked on a butterfly fluttering just above its nose.
You see a small black-and-white painting of a cat crouched low, eyes locked on a butterfly fluttering just above its nose.
Min Zhen painted this for a friend who loved nature. The cat’s tense muscles and the butterfly’s delicate wings feel alive—like you could reach out and touch them. The artist never signed it, so the work stayed quiet for centuries.
Look up more works from china, qing dynasty (1644-1911) to see how other artists painted animals with this same care.
Overview
Cat and Butterfly is a small painting by Min Zhen, created in his later years. It is one of several works in an album made for a friend.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts a cat stalking a butterfly, a scene that is also a homophone for 'octogenarian' in Chinese, expressing a wish for the recipient's longevity. The image combines naturalistic observation with a symbolic message.
Technique & Style
The work showcases Min Zhen's mature style, characterized by delicate brushwork and a focus on capturing the subtleties of natural forms. The composition is unconventional, presenting the subject from an unusual viewpoint.
History & Provenance
The album, which includes Cat and Butterfly, was painted in exchange for a scholar's stone for Dailili Shanren, a friend of the artist. Min Zhen's connection to other artists and his time in Beijing likely influenced his style.
Artist & collection
Artist
Min Zhen was a Chinese painter and seal carver born in Nanchang, Jiangxi, who spent most of his life in Hubei.
