Red Friend

Red Friend

Lan Ying

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Strangely faceted rocks—thought of as miniature mountains—have been treasured by collectors since the Tang dynasty (618–907). This portrait of a rock called Red Friend is painted without surrounding garden elements, freeing the viewer to imagine its setting.


Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

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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.