Squirrel and Grape

Liu Deliu

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Liu Deliu's fan painted in a narrow inky range of colors portrays a squirrel precariously suspended between his goal, a succulent grape, and his curiosity about the intentions of an insect that has lighted on this object. The liveliness of this subject has obvious charm. In his inscription Liu says he is working in the style of Lu Shouping (Lu Zhi, 1496–1576), a Ming artist renowned for his sensitive observations transposed into ink sketches of flowers and birds. Using animation, subtle color and a decorative format, Liu transforms a subject of interest to scholar-artists since the Yuan into a popular image.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Met's collection of Asian art—more than 35,000 objects, ranging in date from the third millennium B.C. to the twenty-first century—is one of the largest and most comprehensive in the world. Each of the many civilizations of Asia is represented by outstanding works, providing an unrivaled experience of the artistic traditions of nearly half the world.

Metropolitan Museum of Art