Rock, Tiger Lily and Orchid

Unidentified

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Zhao Wenchu (born Wen Shu) was a fourth-generation descendant of the Suzhou luminary Wen Zhengming. Like most members of the family—men and women—she received a first-rate classical education. Many women painters of the Ming dynasty focused on floral themes; for some, this may have been a preference, but others were likely guided toward this genre because of the association of women with gardens and blossoms. A lack of refinement in the brushwork of this example suggests that it may be by one of the many later painters who produced works in Zhao’s style.

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