Artwork
清 八大山人（朱耷） 蓮塘戲禽圖 卷|Birds in a lotus pond
清 八大山人（朱耷） 蓮塘戲禽圖 卷|Birds in a lotus pond is an ink painting by the Baroque artist Bada Shanren. It dates from 1690 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
Created in China, the work is categorized under the landscape genre and reflects the artist's focus on avian subjects within a traditional setting.
This handscroll, dated 1690 and painted by Bada Shanren (Zhu Da) on satin, portrays birds in a lotus pond, as indicated by its title. Created in China, the work is categorized under the landscape genre and reflects the artist's focus on avian subjects within a traditional setting. Its composition and subject matter align with the broader tradition of depicting nature's fauna in Chinese ink painting, where the birds form the central motif of the pond scene.
History & Provenance
The handscroll Birds in a Lotus Pond was created by Bada Shanren (Zhu Da) in 1690. Executed in ink on satin, the work measures 27.3 cm in height and 205.1 cm in width and was produced in China during the Qing dynasty. The painting is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, where it is catalogued as a landscape depicting birds.
No specific details regarding the original commission, the initial patron, or the intermediate ownership chain are provided in the available records.
Context
The handscroll, dated 1690, was painted by Bada Shanren (Zhu Da) using ink on satin; it measures 27.3 cm in height and 205.1 cm in width and belongs to the landscape genre within Chinese painting. The work portrays birds in a lotus pond and was produced in China before entering the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. As part of the artist's later oeuvre, the piece exemplifies his expressive treatment of avian subjects within the literati tradition and serves as a reference point for studies of Qing-era bird imagery.
Overview
Created around 1690, this hand‑scroll painting by the Qing‑period artist Bada Shanren (Zhu Da) presents a quiet scene of three birds perched among lotus leaves. Executed in ink on satin, the composition is intimate, intended for close, personal viewing rather than public display.
Technique & Style
Ink is applied with a loose yet controlled brushstroke, allowing the leaves to emerge in soft green‑brown washes while the birds stand out in stark, crisp lines. Large areas of untouched satin create a sense of negative space, giving the figures a floating quality within the composition.
Artist & collection
