Myna Bird

Data

Artist Attributed to Mu Qi
Period China, Southern Song dynasty, 12th - 13th century
Materials and techniques Hanging scroll, ink on paper
Size 52.7×30.0

Explanation

A myna bird is perched on a small branch with just a few leaves. Its relaxing pose with its neck turned is depicted by simple, swift strokes and the stillness is strictly expressed only through the shading of the monochrome ink. At the bottom right, there is a chop “Tenzan” which was Yoshimitsu’s pseudonym, indicating that this was a treasure of the Ashikaga Shogunate.

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