Artwork
明 唐寅 墨竹圖 卷|Ink bamboo
明 唐寅 墨竹圖 卷|Ink bamboo 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.
About this work
Technique & Style
As a paper support, the medium relies on the interaction of ink washes and brushwork to define the formal qualities of the bamboo stalks and leaves.
Created in 1497, this handscroll by Tang Yin is executed in ink on paper. The work belongs to the landscape genre and specifically depicts Bambusoideae, showcasing the artist's engagement with traditional bamboo imagery. As a paper support, the medium relies on the interaction of ink washes and brushwork to define the formal qualities of the bamboo stalks and leaves.
The piece is currently held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. While the specific handling techniques and current physical condition are not detailed in the provided records, the classification as a painting on paper from the Ming dynasty establishes the foundational material context for its stylistic execution.
History & Provenance
The handscroll titled 明 唐寅 墨竹圖 卷 (Ink Bamboo) was painted by Tang Yin in 1497 in China. Executed in ink on paper, it falls under the painting classification and landscape genre, depicting Bambusoideae. The work is recorded in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection, indicating its current ownership.
No additional details about its commission or previous owners are documented in the available sources, but its creation date and place of origin are explicitly noted as 1497 in China.
Tang Yin's handscroll titled Ink Bamboo, created in 1497, is currently held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The work, executed in ink on paper, depicts bamboo and is classified under the paintings genre. While the provided sources confirm the artwork's location at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and its creation date of 1497, they do not list a specific inventory or accession number for this piece. Furthermore, the available information contains no details regarding the painting's exhibition history or past public displays.
Overview
This handscroll, titled Ink Bamboo, was created by the Chinese artist Tang Yin in 1497. Executed with ink on paper, the painting presents a solitary stalk of bamboo. As a prominent work within the genre of Chinese landscape paintings, it exemplifies the artist's skill in capturing natural forms with expressive simplicity, a characteristic often valued in literati art of the Ming dynasty.
Subject & Meaning
The artwork focuses exclusively on a single bamboo plant, depicted with a slight bend in its stalk. In Chinese cultural tradition, bamboo carries profound symbolic weight, representing qualities such as resilience, integrity, and flexibility. Its ability to withstand harsh conditions without breaking made it a potent metaphor for scholarly virtue and perseverance, themes frequently explored in literati painting.
Artist & collection
Artist
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.
