Artwork

Bird on Lotus

Bird on Lotus, by Unknown, 1725
Bird on Lotus, by Unknown, 1725

Bird on Lotus is a print by the Baroque artist Unknown. It dates from 1725 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

This was probably a wall print sold in Suzhou markets; people bought them to decorate homes during the Qing dynasty.

A small bird perches on a lotus pad in the center of a square sheet.
The lines are crisp and the colors flat—no shading, just ink and bright mineral pigments.
This was probably a wall print sold in Suzhou markets; people bought them to decorate homes during the Qing dynasty.

Look for the tiny red seal in the corner: it’s the printer’s mark, like a brand logo.
These prints were mass-produced, yet each one feels handmade because the blocks wore down over time.

Next, explore more works tagged “Qing dynasty (1644–1911).”

Overview

Bird on Lotus is a print featuring a small bird perched on a lotus pad, created using ink and bright mineral pigments on a square sheet.

Technique & Style

The print is characterized by crisp lines and flat colors, with no shading. A tiny red seal in the corner serves as the printer's mark. The mass-produced nature of the print is evident, yet each copy has a handmade feel due to the wear and tear on the blocks over time.

History & Provenance

This print was likely sold in Suzhou markets during the Qing dynasty as a wall decoration. Suzhou was a hub of printing activity in the Jiangnan region, where commercialized single-sheet color prints became popular.

Context

The development of printing in Jiangnan cities like Suzhou led to the creation of commercialized single-sheet color prints that contributed to the urban visual culture.

Artist & collection

Artist

Unknown

entity whose identity is not known

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: Cleveland Museum of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.