Water Buffaloes
Medium
Album leaf; ink on silk
Dimensions
9 1/8 x 9 1/2 in. (23.2 x 24.1 cm)
Classification
Paintings
Culture & Period
China · Song dynasty (?) (960–1279)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Mrs. Cole Porter, 1951
Accession Number
51.150.1
Tags
Art Historical Context
This delicate album leaf, titled *Water Buffaloes*, offers a glimpse into the pastoral imagery cherished during China’s Song dynasty (960–1279). Created with ink on silk by an unidentified artist, the small format—just over nine inches square—invites close, personal viewing, typical of album leaves that were often compiled into portable collections for scholars and collectors. The subject of water buffaloes, a staple of rural life, reflects the Song era’s deep appreciation for nature and agricultural themes, where animals symbolized harmony between humans and the land. Ink on silk was a favor...