Artwork
清 居巢 鳥圖 扇面|Bird
清 居巢 鳥圖 扇面|Bird is an ink painting by the Qing dynasty painting artist Ju Chao. It dates from 1856 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The fan painting by Ju Chao, dated 1856, takes a bird as its central subject, rendered in ink and color on gold-flecked paper.
The fan painting by Ju Chao, dated 1856, takes a bird as its central subject, rendered in ink and color on gold-flecked paper. Rendered on an album-leaf-mounted folding fan, the work belongs to a long Chinese tradition of bird-and-flower painting, in which depictions of birds typically carry auspicious or seasonal associations. The gold-flecked ground lends the imagery a decorative, festive quality consistent with such symbolic readings.
Beyond the stated subject of a bird, the available documentation does not specify the species, pose, or accompanying flora, so further iconographic detail cannot be grounded in the sources.
Technique & Style
Created in 1856, this work by Ju Chao is executed in ink and color on gold-flecked paper. The original support was a folding fan, which has since been mounted as an album leaf. The composition features a bird, fitting within the landscape genre classification. The physical dimensions of the mounted piece are 17.8 cm in height and 53 cm in width.
History & Provenance
Created in 1856 by the Chinese artist Ju Chao, this work depicts a bird rendered in ink and color on gold-flecked paper. Although originally executed as a folding fan, the piece has been mounted as an album leaf. The artwork was produced in China and subsequently entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it remains held.
Specific details regarding its original commission or intermediate ownership history prior to its museum acquisition are not provided in the available records.
Overview
Created in 1856 by the Qing‑dynasty painter Ju Chao, this work is a folding fan rendered on gold‑flecked paper. The composition centers on a solitary bird perched on a branch, rendered with delicate ink lines and subtle colour washes that convey the creature’s poised alertness.
Context
During the mid‑1800s, Chinese artists frequently explored avian subjects, integrating them into poetic and decorative motifs. This work reflects that tradition, aligning with contemporary tastes for refined, intimate compositions that could be displayed in domestic interiors.
Artist & collection
