Artwork
明 佚名 吳鎮(僞款) 枯木竹石圖 卷|Bamboos
明 佚名 吳鎮(僞款) 枯木竹石圖 卷|Bamboos is an ink painting by the Yuan dynasty literati painting artist After Wu Zhen. It dates from 1506 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This handscroll, titled Bamboos, is an ink on silk painting from the Ming Dynasty, dated 1506.
About this work
Technique & Style
The medium of ink on silk supports the formal rendering of the bamboo subjects within a landscape context.
Created in 1506, this handscroll depicts bamboos and is executed in ink on silk. The work measures 31.8 centimeters in height and extends 665.5 centimeters in width, reflecting the traditional format of Chinese landscape painting scrolls. Although the scroll bears a signature attributing it to Wu Zhen, scholarly classification identifies the artist as an anonymous painter from the Ming dynasty who utilized a pseudonymous inscription.
The medium of ink on silk supports the formal rendering of the bamboo subjects within a landscape context. The piece is currently housed in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is categorized specifically as a painting of the landscape genre featuring Bambusoideae.
History & Provenance
The handscroll titled 明 佚名 吳鎮(僞款) 枯木竹石圖 卷|Bamboos was produced in China in 1506 by an anonymous painter working in the tradition of Wu Zhen; it is executed in ink on silk and portrays bamboo (Bambusoideae). The work is classified as a landscape painting and was created as a handscroll. It entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it remains on view, and its documented inception dates to 1506‑01‑01, with physical dimensions of 31.8 cm in height and 665.5 cm in width.
The handscroll titled Bamboos, attributed to an anonymous Ming painter working after Wu Zhen and dated to 1506, is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The work, executed in ink on silk, measures 31.8 cm in height and 665.5 cm in width. While the scroll bears a false signature of Wu Zhen, it is cataloged as a painting by an anonymous artist within the museum's holdings.
The provided sources identify the institution and physical dimensions but do not list a specific accession number or detail any past exhibition history for this particular artifact.
Overview
This handscroll, titled Bamboos, is an ink on silk painting from the Ming Dynasty, dated 1506. While bearing a false signature of the Yuan master Wu Zhen, the work is by an anonymous artist. It presents a serene landscape composition featuring withered trees and resilient bamboo, rendered with a minimalist aesthetic typical of scholarly painting traditions. The long format invites a contemplative viewing experience.
Subject & Meaning
The scroll depicts a sparse natural scene, dominated by a clump of bamboo swaying in an unseen breeze alongside a few gnarled, dry trees. The upper portion of the composition remains largely unpainted, creating an expansive void that evokes the presence of mist or an open sky. This deliberate emptiness enhances the feeling of tranquility and vastness, allowing the viewer to contemplate the enduring qualities of the natural world.
Artist & collection
