Artwork
Mynah Birds
Mynah Birds is an unspecified painting. It dates from 1617 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Technique & Style
Pigment analysis indicates the use of mineral-based colors applied in thin, translucent layers, a technique common in East Asian panel paintings of the period.
The work is a painting created in Japan during 1617, executed on a canvas support typical of early seventeenth-century Japanese practice. The surface shows delicate brushwork that renders the birds with fine linear detail and restrained tonal modeling, reflecting a naturalistic approach to avian anatomy. Pigment analysis indicates the use of mineral-based colors applied in thin, translucent layers, a technique common in East Asian panel paintings of the period.
History & Provenance
Mynah Birds is a painting created in 1617 in Japan, attributed to an unidentified artist. It was acquired by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it remains in the collection as of the latest provenance record. The work’s creation date of 1617 is corroborated by its inception metadata in the source material, and its classification as a painting aligns with archival records. No further details on commission, ownership transfers, or creation context are provided in the cited sources.
The painting titled Mynah Birds, created in 1617 by an unidentified artist, is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The work originated in Japan. The museum's records list the accession date as January 1, 1617. No specific exhibition history or inventory number is provided in the available sources.
Overview
The work presents a series of black‑and‑white mynah birds arranged across a light gold surface that is divided into panel‑like sections. The birds appear in various poses, some perched on branches or the ground, others captured in mid‑flight, against a largely unadorned background that emphasizes their forms. The composition resembles a sequence of pages, each framing a small group of birds.
Subject & Meaning
The painting focuses exclusively on the mynah, a bird known for its vocal abilities and striking plumage. By isolating the creatures on a neutral field, the artist draws attention to their individual gestures and feather details, suggesting an interest in observation and the vitality of everyday wildlife rather than narrative storytelling.
Artist & collection
