Water Buffalo
Medium
Album leaf; ink and color on silk
Dimensions
9 1/2 x 11 1/2 in. (24.1 x 29.2 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
13.220.99h
Tags
Art Historical Context
This delicate album leaf, titled *Water Buffalo*, captures a serene rural scene from China's Qing dynasty (16441911). Rendered by an unidentified artist, it depicts men water buffaloes amid lush landscapes dotted with trees, evoking timeless harmony of agrarian life. These sturdy animals, essential for plowing rice fields, symbolize diligence and the rhythms of the countryside in Chinese art, offering viewers a glimpse into everyday existence during an era of imperial prosperity and cultural refinement. Crafted as an album leaf in ink and color on silk—a format prized for its portability and ...