Warbler and Camellia

Warbler and Camellia

Totoya Hokkei

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Bird-and-flower, or "kachō," subjects were prevalent in Japanese painting and other arts for hundreds of years, though surimono were the first single-sheet woodblock prints to incorporate fully this traditional motif. In this print by Hokkei, the stylized gold cloud design is drawn from classical painting styles. The heaviness of the right side of this composition is delightfully balanced by the precariously perched warbler.

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.