Artwork Page for Insect on Viburnum

Details / Information for Insect on Viburnum

Insect on Viburnum

紫荊上的昆蟲

1700–1750

China, Suzhou, Qing dynasty

(1644–1911)
Medium
Polychrome woodblock print; ink and color on paper
Measurements
24.1 x 33.4 cm (9 1/2 x 13 1/8 in.)
Credit Line
Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund 2025.120
Public Domain
You can copy, modify, and distribute this work, all without asking permission. Learn more about CMA's Open Access Initiative.
Location
Not on view
Print
?

Did You Know?

Woodblock printing in color reached a height in China in the 1600s to 1700s. The prints were executed by means of sets of separate blocks, each carved to print a different color.

Description

In the 1600s, printing flourished in such Jiangnan cities as Nanjing, Suzhou, Hangzhou, and Huizhou, evolving from privately enjoyed illustrated books printed in color to more commercialized single-sheet color prints that were hung on walls and became part of the rich urban visual culture.
A horizontal woodblock print features delicate ink outlines and pale washes on cream paper. Gnarled, reddish-brown branches bear clusters of light yellow, round fruit and thin-lined leaves. A small beetle with black spots and a red stripe sits on a fruit in the lower left. In the upper left, four columns of Japanese calligraphy appear in black ink, providing a structural counterpoint to the organic, blossoming branches.

Insect on Viburnum

1700–1750

China, Suzhou, Qing dynasty (1644–1911)

See Also

Visually Similar by AI

Contact Us

The information about this object, including provenance, may not be currently accurate. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please fill out the appropriate request form linked below:

Update or Correct Artwork Information

Imagery or Rights for Non-Open-Access Artworks

Report a Website Issue

Further Questions About This Artwork