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Leaping Carp

ca. 1644–1753

Not on view

A leaping carp, the dominant image of this print, symbolizes a man’s glorious entrance to officialdom by passing the highest level of the civil service examinations. Many prints of this size and quality were produced in Suzhou. Showing no signs of having been made from joined blocks, this work presumably was created using different sheet-sized woodblocks for the black outlines and the areas of color.

Leaping Carp, Woodblock print; ink and color on paper, China — This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Li he yan

Title: Leaping Carp

Period: Qing dynasty (1644–1911)

Date: ca. 1644–1753

Culture: China

Medium: Woodblock print; ink and color on paper

Dimensions: Image: 23 1/2 x 11 5/16 in. (59.7 x 28.8 cm)
Overall: 26 15/16 x 20 in. (68.4 x 50.8 cm)

Classification: Prints

Credit Line: On loan from the British Museum

The Met

Asian Art at The Met

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