Deer by a Pine Stream

Deer by a Pine Stream

Unidentified artist

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The auspicious objects, animals, and flowers found in the imperial garden were often the subject of court paintings. In this miniature picture, a male deer and a female deer stand by a stream from which auspicious clouds emanate. The image seems to convey the message that in this cultivated, peaceful, and humane era, the nation is as idyllic as an imperial park. No doubt the painting functioned as part of a systematic program of imperial art designed to create a symbolic visualization of a cultivated emperor's reign.

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.