Woman in a garden

Qian Huian

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Qian Huian says this figure is "done in the style of Tang Yin" (1470–1523), but the echo is so faint as to require the inscription to call it to mind. Rather, this meticulously styled beauty with her large head, wraithlike form and delicate features is an unmistakable late 19th century romantic creature. Qian Huian’s influential style, promulgated by his many students and through his popular painting manual, led to the appearance of similar beauties on fans, calendars and painted snuff bottles, as well as in paintings. Qian Huian’sreferences to orthodox painters like Tang Yin and the literary inscriptions he frequently added to his paintings made them attractive to patrons aspiring to literati taste.

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