Cicada

Wu Xizai

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Wu paints the cicada clinging to an autumn willow branch in the wet-ink manner of the 18th century Yangzhou Eccentrics. A willow branch suits Wu's calligraphic talent. As with bamboo painting, willow painting demands that each nuance of a leaf's form and texture be conveyed by a single line.

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