Tree Dryad (Shalabhanjika)

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Integrated into the carved facades of Indian temples is a host of seductive females whose identifications are not always apparent. Some are nature spirits. Others serve as consorts and companions to the gods. The blossoming branch in this woman's hand and the tree trunk in the background suggest that she is a wood nymph.

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