Birds Gather under the Spring Willow
1404
unspecified
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
1404
unspecified
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
You see a tall scroll crowded with birds—peacocks, pheasants, and smaller songbirds—perched in a blossoming willow and peonies. The peacock stands out. It wasn’t native to China, so artists used it to show off rare beauty or power. Some think this painting is a quiet nod to the emperor, like courtiers gathering to admire a ruler. Others say the peacock just looks pretty. To see how other Ming artists painted birds, look up china, ming dynasty (1368–1644).
