Bamboo
In China, the association of bamboo with resilience and fortitude made it a popular painting subject among literati and Chan (Zen) monks. According to tradition, this image of mist-shrouded bamboo was created by Kaō, a fourteenth-century monk who was among the earliest Japanese practitioners of Chinese-inspired monochrome ink painting. Despite the attribution, it is likely sixteenth century in date. Graded ink tonalities and delicate rendering of joints in the stalk indicate that the artist was well-trained in Chinese methods of ink painting.
Artwork Details
- 伝可翁筆 竹図
- Title: Bamboo
- Artist: Attributed to Kaō (Japanese,active first half 14th century)
- Period: Nanbokuchō (1336–92)–Muromachi (1392–1573) period
- Date: ca. 16th century
- Culture: Japan
- Medium: Hanging scroll; ink on silk
- Dimensions: 33 x 14 1/4 in. (83.8 x 36.2 cm)
- Classification: Paintings
- Credit Line: The Howard Mansfield Collection, Purchase, Rogers Fund, 1936
- Object Number: 36.100.35
- Curatorial Department: Asian Art
More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Kaō
probably 15th century
Japan
16th century
Shikibu Terutada
mid-16th century
Uto Gyoshi
mid- to late 16th century
Sesson Shūkei
1550s
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.