Artwork
清 佚名 秋葉山禽 冊頁|Bird on Branch
清 佚名 秋葉山禽 冊頁|Bird on Branch is an ink painting. It dates from 1777 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This work, titled "Bird on Branch," is an anonymous Chinese painting executed on silk and mounted as a fan leaf within an album.
About this work
Overview
This work, titled "Bird on Branch," is an anonymous Chinese painting executed on silk and mounted as a fan leaf within an album. Rendered with ink and color, the composition presents a solitary bird perched on a branch against an unadorned background, emphasizing the bird as the focal point.
Subject & Meaning
The painting captures a single bird in a natural pose, suggesting a moment of quiet observation. By isolating the creature against a plain surface, the artist draws attention to the bird’s form and movement, a common motif in Chinese art that reflects an appreciation of nature’s subtle vitality.
Technique & Style
Executed with fluid ink lines and modest washes of color, the piece employs a restrained brushwork that defines the bird and branch with minimal strokes. The use of silk as support allows for delicate translucency, while the fan format influences the composition’s elongated, vertical orientation.
History & Provenance
The work is part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection of Chinese album leaves. Though the creator remains unknown, the piece exemplifies the tradition of fan paintings that were circulated among scholars and collectors as portable artworks.
Artist & collection
