Magpie on Viburnum Branch

Genga Japanese

Not on view

Framed by the blossoms of a viburnum, this magpie is depicted with great attention to detail, reflecting a taste for the idealized naturalism characteristic of the imperial painting academy of China’s Southern Song dynasty (1127–1279). Chinese paintings, treasured by Ashikaga shoguns of the fifteenth century, exerted a strong influence on Japanese artists of the Muromachi period, when Chinese culture also served as a model for the Zen priesthood and educated elite. Little is known about the artist, but a good number of academic-style bird-and-flower paintings feature his seal or have been attributed to his hand.

Magpie on Viburnum Branch, Genga (Japanese, active early 16th century), Hanging scroll; ink and color on paper, Japan

This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Open Access

As part of the Met's Open Access policy, you can freely copy, modify and distribute this image, even for commercial purposes.

API

Public domain data for this object can also be accessed using the Met's Open Access API.

painting

Magpie on Viburnum Branch, Genga (Japanese, active early 16th century), Hanging scroll; ink and color on paper, Japan
Magpie on Viburnum Branch, Genga (Japanese, active early 16th century), Hanging scroll; ink and color on paper, Japan

This artwork is meant to be viewed from right to left. Scroll left to view more.