Folding screen with figures in a landscape

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The scenes in this set of eight pictorial panels represent prosperity in traditional Chinese ideology. Here, farmers and fishermen enjoy the harvest; craftsmen and women busily produce silk and paper; auspicious cranes and deer gather for a longevity celebration; and travelers journey on domestic and foreign ships. Carved out of soapstone and glued onto silk, these relief figures are all depicted in extreme detail. Their discernible but subtle facial expressions further demonstrate the artist’s sophisticated skill in figural representation.

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