Portrait of Lady

Kano Tanbi

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

This portrait of a lady seems to be a modern copy of a Chinese painting in The Met’s collection in the style of Li Gonglin (Chinese, ca. 1041–1106), see 29.100.476, acquired at the same time. The inscription by Liaoan Qingyu 了菴清欲 (1288–1363) is also transcribed here. The box inscription suggests that the poem might be a cryptic reference to Gyoran (Fish Basket) Kannon It reads: Her hairpin is awry, her hair disheveled; She is not what she seems. And where you cannot see, There is no fish in the basket. --- Inscribed by Monk Qingyu.[1] 釵橫髩亂，口是心非。 見不及處，籃裏無魚。 比丘清欲贊。

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