Artwork
明 佚名 犬戲圖 冊頁|Puppies Playing beside a Palm Tree and Garden Rock
明 佚名 犬戲圖 冊頁|Puppies Playing beside a Palm Tree and Garden Rock is an ink painting. It dates from 1449 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Created during the Ming dynasty by an unknown hand, this album leaf depicts a lively scene of puppies at play.
About this work
Overview
Created during the Ming dynasty by an unknown hand, this album leaf depicts a lively scene of puppies at play. Executed in ink and color on silk, the work measures a modest size typical of private, portable paintings intended for personal enjoyment.
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on several young dogs frolicking near a stylized palm tree and a garden rock. Their animated interactions convey a moment of domestic leisure, reflecting the appreciation of everyday life and the affection for animals in Ming household culture.
Technique & Style
The artist employs fluid ink lines combined with bright mineral pigments, rendering the figures with a blend of simplicity and detail. The use of clear, rounded shapes and rhythmic brushwork suggests movement, while the delicate coloration adds depth to the foliage and stone.
History & Provenance
The piece is part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Asian art collection, acquired through the museum’s ongoing efforts to represent Ming-era album painting. Its anonymous attribution aligns with many courtly and literati works where the creator’s identity was not recorded.
Artist & collection
