Artwork

明十竹齋書畫譜四開|Leaf from the Ten Bamboo Studio Manual of Painting and Calligraphy

明十竹齋書畫譜四開|Leaf from the Ten Bamboo Studio Manual of Painting and Calligraphy is an ink print by the Baroque artist Unknown. It dates from 1633 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The work is an individual leaf from the printed volume known as the Ten Bamboo Studio Manual of Painting and Calligraphy.

About this work

Overview

The work is an individual leaf from the printed volume known as the Ten Bamboo Studio Manual of Painting and Calligraphy. Executed with ink and color on paper, it functions as a print rather than a unique hand‑drawn painting. The leaf presents a modest composition centered on a small bird perched on a branch, set against a light background with a few green leaves and a patch of grass.

Subject & Meaning

The central figure is a bird rendered in soft blues, oranges and whites, its head turned left and tail slightly fanned. The bird’s poised stance and the surrounding foliage suggest a quiet observation of nature, a common theme in Chinese brushwork that emphasizes harmony between creature and environment.

Technique & Style

The artist employs simple, fluid lines to outline the bird and branch, while gentle shading—achieved through cross‑hatching and subtle washes—creates volume. The color palette remains muted yet distinct, allowing the bird to stand out without overwhelming the composition.

History & Provenance

The leaf originates from the Ten Bamboo Studio Manual, a printed collection of painting and calligraphy exemplars produced in the Qing dynasty. As a printed page, it would have been circulated among scholars and artists for study and replication.

Context

Printed manuals such as this one played a key role in transmitting artistic conventions in imperial China, offering models for brush technique, composition, and the use of color. The bird motif aligns with the manual’s instructional purpose, illustrating how to render avian subjects with economy of line.