松牡丹孔雀図|Peacocks, Pine Tree, and Peonies
1850
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From the collection of Metropolitan Museum of Art
1850
ink
From the collection of Metropolitan Museum of Art
This painting shows a peacock standing on a rocky ground. Its feathers are dark with bright blue and green patterns, and its head has a striking crest. Around it, pine trees grow tall with sharp needles, and flowers—white, pink, and red—sit scattered on the ground. The peacock’s tail feathers look almost like they’re moving, even though they’re painted still. The artist used careful lines to make the feathers look textured and real. Next, look up cross-hatching to see how artists create depth with lines like these.
