Branch of Tree
Medium
Fan mounted as an album leaf; ink and color on silk
Dimensions
Diam. 11 in. (27.9 cm)
Classification
Paintings
Culture & Period
China · Qing dynasty (1644–1911)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
John Stewart Kennedy Fund, 1913
Accession Number
13.100.134
Tags
Art Historical Context
Behold the delicate "Branch of Tree," captivating Qing dynasty (1644–1911) artwork from China, rendered by an unidentified artist using ink and color on silk Originally a fan, now elegantly mounted as an album leaf this 11-inch diameter painting (27.9 cm) captures a lush tree branch adorned with ripe fruit and perching birds. The intimate scale invites close viewing, revealing the artist's masterful interplay of fine brushstrokes that bring nature's vitality to life. In Qing-era Chinese painting, silk served as a prized medium for its smooth surface, allowing vibrant colors to shimmer and ink...