Head of a Luohan
Northern Song, Liao, or Jin dynasty, c. 11th century
Medium
Hollow dry lacquer
Dimensions
28.6 × 18 × 20 cm (11 1/4 × 7 1/16 × 7 7/8 in.)
Classification
lacquer
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
88724
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
In traditional Buddhist belief, the luohan is a disciple who has attained enlightenment through intense personal effort. Beginning in the ninth century, the worship of luohan and their depiction in art evolved primarily in the context of the Chan (Zen), or “meditation,” sect of Buddhism. This head was created in the delicate technique of hollow dry lacquer. The artisan first soaked layers of coarse cloth in lacquer (a thick sap tapped from a sumac tree) and applied these to a clay core formed ov...
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...