Small Bird on a Crepe Myrtle Branch

Small Bird on a Crepe Myrtle Branch

Tsubaki Chinzan

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

At a time when the ukiyo-e tradition was emphasizing scenes of contemporary life in the urban world, nanga or "southern pictures," inspired by Chinese painting of the Ming and Qing dynasties, offered a retreat into the unhurried world of nature and art. Tsubaki Chinzan shows us a formal yet abbreviated landscape, where just two softly rendered boughs of the myrtle tree open their delicate foliage to embrace the rising moon, partially obscured by clouds. The evening mood invites contemplation and quietude, in an intimate moment shared with a tiny bird who is nestled securely among the spring foliage.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Small Bird on a Crepe Myrtle BranchSmall Bird on a Crepe Myrtle BranchSmall Bird on a Crepe Myrtle BranchSmall Bird on a Crepe Myrtle BranchSmall Bird on a Crepe Myrtle Branch

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.