Who painted 明佚名唐寅(僞款) 蕉葉仕女圖卷|Beauty Sleeping on a Banana Leaf?

明佚名唐寅(僞款) 蕉葉仕女圖卷|Beauty Sleeping on a Banana Leaf was painted by Tang Yin in 1497.

Where can I see 明佚名唐寅(僞款) 蕉葉仕女圖卷|Beauty Sleeping on a Banana Leaf?

明佚名唐寅(僞款) 蕉葉仕女圖卷|Beauty Sleeping on a Banana Leaf is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is 明佚名唐寅(僞款) 蕉葉仕女圖卷|Beauty Sleeping on a Banana Leaf?

明佚名唐寅(僞款) 蕉葉仕女圖卷|Beauty Sleeping on a Banana Leaf is associated with Ming dynasty painting.

Artwork

明佚名唐寅(僞款) 蕉葉仕女圖卷|Beauty Sleeping on a Banana Leaf

Tang Yin , 1497

明佚名唐寅(僞款) 蕉葉仕女圖卷|Beauty Sleeping on a Banana Leaf is an ink painting by the Ming dynasty painting artist Tang Yin. It dates from 1497 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This handscroll, titled Beauty Sleeping on a Banana Leaf, is an ink on silk painting from the Ming dynasty.

About this work

Overview

The work presents a solitary figure, a woman depicted in repose, nestled within the expansive form of a banana leaf.

This handscroll, titled Beauty Sleeping on a Banana Leaf, is an ink on silk painting from the Ming dynasty. While it bears a signature attributed to Tang Yin, scholarly consensus suggests the artist remains anonymous. The work presents a solitary figure, a woman depicted in repose, nestled within the expansive form of a banana leaf. It captures a moment of quiet contemplation and natural integration.

Subject & Meaning

The painting portrays a nude woman curled in slumber upon a large banana leaf. Her form is subtly enveloped by the leaf's dark, sweeping lines, creating an intimate and secluded scene. This depiction of sleep emphasizes tranquility and vulnerability, inviting viewers into a private, meditative space. The unusual pairing of the human figure with the natural element suggests a harmonious connection.

Technique & Style

Executed with ink on silk, the artist demonstrates a distinctive approach to form and texture. The broad, dark strokes define the banana leaf, while its veins are rendered with such precision that they appear to cradle the woman's back, mimicking the folds of a covering. Areas of thinly applied ink create an ethereal quality, conveying a sense of lightness and suggesting the subtle movement of breath.

History & Provenance

The attribution of Beauty Sleeping on a Banana Leaf has been a subject of scholarly debate. Although the work carries a signature of Tang Yin, an influential Ming dynasty painter, art historians widely regard this as a later addition or a false attribution. Consequently, the painting is officially cataloged as anonymous, with its precise creation date around 1497 remaining associated with the disputed signature.

名取酒六家選　大もんぢや内浅じふ　木綿屋七ッ梅|A Courtesan, Kitagawa Utamaro

Artist & collection

Artist

Tang Yin

Tang Yin (Chinese: 唐寅; pinyin: Táng Yín; Cantonese Yale: Tong Yan; 6 March 1470 – 7 January 1524), courtesy name Bohu (伯虎) and Ziwei (子畏), was a Chinese painter, calligrapher, and poet of the Ming dynasty period.