Budai

About this work

This painting shows a Buddhist monk with a big smile. He's sitting with his legs crossed and wearing simple clothes. The monk in the painting is Budai, a legendary figure from Chinese Buddhism. The artist, Jonan Etetsu, was a Zen monk himself. He lived in Japan during the Muromachi period. This period was a time of great change in Japanese art and culture. You can learn more about this style by looking at the work of another artist, but for now, check out the museum where this painting is held, The Cleveland Museum of Art.