Landscape with White-Breasted Crows
Medium
Handscroll; ink and color on paper
Dimensions
Image: 11 3/8 in. × 10 ft. 10 1/4 in. (28.9 × 330.8 cm)
Classification
Paintings
Culture & Period
China · Ming (1368–1644) or Qing (1644–1911) dynasty
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
From the Collection of A. W. Bahr, Purchase, Fletcher Fund, 1947
Accession Number
47.18.8
Rights
Public Domain
Tags
Art Historical Context
**Landscape with White-Breastedrows** by Zha Shibiao is a handscroll painting from China's Ming (1368–4) or Qing (1644–1911), executed in ink and color on paper Measuring a slender 11⅜ inches high by over 10 feet long, this format invites viewers to unroll it gradually, revealing a panoramic journey through misty landscapes alive with white-breasted crows As a work in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Asian collection—acquired in 1947 from A. W. Bahr's esteemed holdings—it exemplifies the refined traditions of Chinese scroll painting. Zha Shibiao, active during a transformative era bridging the Ming and Qing dynasties, blends delicate ink washes and subtle colors to evoke nature's grandeur and serenity. The handscroll medium, a hallmark of literati art, allowed artists to compose expansive scenes that unfold like a story, emphasizing harmony between birds and their rugged, ethereal surroundings. Crows, often symbols of autumn or the wild in Chinese culture, add poetic depth, perched amid towering peaks and winding rivers. This piece highlights the enduring appeal of Chinese landscape painting, where technical mastery meets philosophical contemplation. Visitors can appreciate how its long, narrow composition encourages mindful viewing, much as it would have delighted scholars centuries ago. (198 words)
About the Artist
Zha Shibiao · 1615–1698
Chinese, 1615–1698