A male figure is sitting sideways, his face looking toward the front right. He wears a long black cap, a red under-kimono, a grayish-color jacket with geometric patterns, and right gray color pantaloons. He holds a fan, which is peeking from the right sleeve. The painting is accompanied by calligraphy on the right side of the figure. The painting is mounted on gold brocade with strips of purple and gold brocade on top and bottom of the painting.
Artist Life Dates
1295-1380
Century
15th century
Object Creation Date
15th century
Accession Number
1962/1.103
Medium and Support
Handscroll section mounted as a hanging scroll: ink and color on paper
Colorful forms and words arranged on a white background. Block letters display words in a mixed-up format, some upside down, some on their sides. On left side there is a section with smaller writing in yellowish ink.
A group of armed men struggles in a landscape while a helmeted female figure hovers on a cloud above them and points to a distant city that lies across an expanse of water. A man at the left with a green cuirass and cloth knotted about his waist and neck stands apart from the combatants and looks up toward the gesturing woman. Behind him appears a row of sword-wielding men locked in combat, with several casualties lying at their feet. On a hillock in the background a pair of oxen, an orange-gold colored sheep, and a winged dragon may be discerned.
Century
16th century
Object Creation Date
1557-1600
Accession Number
1978/2.38
Medium and Support
tin-glazed earthenware (maiolica) with underglaze painting
This engraving depicts a frieze-like arrangement of figures in horizontal format. Two central figures are engaged in a duel on horseback. Several other nude male figures are engaged in battle throughout the composition. The artist's monogram is placed in the upper left corner of the image.
The Bremen Town Musicians (Die Bremer Stadtmusikanten), preparatory drawing for print, "Die Bremer Stadtmusikanten," in Alfred Kubin, Abenteuer einer Zeichenfeder (Münich: R. Piper & Co., 1941) #13
Artist
Alfred Kubin
Physical Description
To the right, four animals - a donkey, goat, cat, and rooster - appear stacked upon one another in a barely sketched-in window. On the left side, four figures sit at what appears to be a meal in a dinning room, with a soup tureen and various dishes. The image is hastily sketched and few details are absolutely readable, other than basic shapes.
This small bust-length figure represents a mustached satyr turning his head toward his left. He wears an animal skin tied at his right shoulder over his bare chest. The liquid character of the cast bronze admirably captures the rippling muscles of the satyr's chest and the flowing curls of his hair and the animal pelt.
Bust-length figure of a woman with head turned proper left, down-turned eyelids and crescent moon atop head; executed in bronze with a rich, dark patina on a brownish stone base.
This is a portrait of courtesan and her attendant. The courtesan wears a kimono with overall cherry blossom patterns and a darker color cloak with fan, plover and wave design lining with overall cherry blossom design silk; the cloak is slipping from her right shoulder. Her obi is draped in front; it has overall hollyhock pattern. Her face is white; Her hair is sculpted like a balloon on the top and has broad wings to the side. Tortoise-shell comb and multiple hairpins adorn the hair. She is strolling toward the right. Her attendant is walking behind her, her face and body partially hidden by the courtesan. She wears the matching kimono with plover and wave design; her kimono has long sleeves (furisode), whose openings are tied with ribbons. Her obi, with peony and geometric design, is tied at the back. Her hair is in the similar shape as the courtesan but not too exaggerated. But she wears an enormous hair accessory consisting of cherry blossoms and tassels, made of silver. Her face is also in white. The painting is accompanied by poem written by Santô Kyôden with his signature and two seals. On the lower left, there are the artist's signature and seal. The mounting is made of silk brocade with embroidery in the design of clematis and millets.
A nude man and woman recline together on the right side of this octagonal plaque. They lay upon the mesh of a net, which is being pulled by a nude male figure seated nearby next to an anvil. Behind the seated man appear two standing figures working at a brick forge. Another pair of figures stands in the middle ground with a row of trees behind them. A diminutive figure mounted on horses appears against a disk in the sky.
Diptych of two square sheets of paper printed with words and lines. Left: Four lines along the diagonal divide the sheet into four triangles. The lines do not intersect in the middle, and stop just short of the corner of the paper. On each line are two words, one right side up, the other upside down. The “pairs” are (from center out, clockwise from top left): inner/ most; obtain/ clarity; come/ startle; replace/ toward. Right: A square is printed just inside the edges of the sheet. On each line are two words, one right side up, the other upside down. The “pairs” are (from top, left to right): lure/ handle; never/ given; random/ roam; diminish/ scale.
Transfer type on square sheet of paper. Four lines divide the sheet into quadrants. The lines do not intersect in the middle, and stop just short of the edge of the paper. On each line are two words, one right side up, the other upside down. The “pairs” are (from center out, clockwise from top): aged/ fair; mess/ change; lovely/ private; trap/ hope.
This woodwork depicts Ebisu, the god of prosperity and especially associated with fishermen. Here he carries a large sea bream or red snapper symbolizing good fortune.
This woodwork depicts Daikoku, the god of good fortune, who is associated with farmers. Here he is sitting astride two large barrels of rice, while carrying over his shoulder a large sack, brimming with treasure. In his right hand he holds a magic mallet, said to be able to produce anything the heart desires when struck.
Ornament Print from a series: 'Grottesco in diversche manieren'
Artist
Hans Vries
Physical Description
Within an elaborate decorative framework consisting of griffins, birds, dogs, and fantastic half man-half beast creatures is a central panel with the image of a nude woman standing on a column holding a victor's wreath in either hand. Approaching for either side is a man in a quadriga holding a banner; each also holds a line that extends up to the wreath in the woman's hand.
Green mountains create the edge of a river. Red flowers grow on the hill framing the scene in the right corner, and two boats sail the waters below. In the upper center of the painting is calligraphic text.
This bronze plaque features a pair of oxen pulling a four-wheeled wagon with six passengers. The seated driver holds a rod in his right hand and a two-tined fork in his left. An older figure holding a flaming vessel stands behind him, followed by a seated figure wearing classical drapery and a laurel wreath. The next figure, seated in the middle of the cart, is an older female, nude to the waist, who holds a cornucopia full of fruit and raises her left hand to point skyward. Two smaller standing figures appear next, one holding a bowl of fruit. The final figure is a reclining female nude holding a flower in the crook of her right arm.
Two horses pull a wagon carrying four female passengers in this small bronze plaque. The driver, a seated nude male with a cap takes the reins in his left hand and raises a whip in his right. Behind him sit two pairs of taller female figures, each wearing a long flowing mantle.
The shape of the circle repeats four times in this painting. It appears in the plump body of Hotei, his head, his large white sack, and the overall shape of the fan.
Artist Life Dates
(Kyoto, 1658 - 1716)
Century
18th century
Object Creation Date
ca 1700-1716
Accession Number
1965/1.157
Medium and Support
fan mounted as hanging scroll, ink and light color on paper
L'Alliance de la Poésie et de la Musique (The Alliance of Poetry and Music)
Artist
Charles Joseph Natoire
Physical Description
Two women clad in flowing robes sit beneath a curved colonnade at the center of this delicately painted scene. The woman on the left, wearing a blue mantle, holds a lyre in her right hand and leans toward her companion, who holds open a musical score on her lap to which she points with her right hand. Books are piled on the steps next to the woman on the left and a putto sits next to her with a scroll unrolled across his lap. A second putto stands next to the other seated woman and plays a viol. A winged putto hovers over the heads of the two women, holding a small trumpet in his left hand and a laurel crown in his right, which he is about to place on the head of the woman with the lyre. Two bust-length portraits of men in oval frames wreathed with laurel hang from the columns in the background.
Upper left corner of paper is folded over. Print was cut at frame-line and to include the below text. Paper size: lh 19 1/2cm & rh 19 3/5cm x w 25 1/5cm. Image size: h 18 1/2cm x w 25 1/5cm.
Hanging scroll. A female figure is sitting against a blank background. She wears multiple layers of kimono, her hair is black and long, and her face white. She is watching a spider, descending from ceiling; her arms are extending in front as if she is trying to catch it. A screen of white and brown fabric is on her right, and an oil ramp with flame is on the other side. Three rolls of paper are placed in front of her. There are the artist's signature and seal on the left lower corner.
The painting is mounted on light blue brocade with designs of auspicious characters and objects, including character “longevity,” treasures, and double gourds. The sides are made of golden brocade, but the gold foil is almost worn out.
Warm holes on the upper right side, some small stains and dark lines on the top and near the face of the figure. Two repaired damages on the lower right corner. Some warm holes on the mounting as well. The wooden scroll bar is black lacquered.
Bust-length white marble sculpture of a young female figure crowned with a plait of wheat and framed along the bottom with a wreath of sculpted acanthus leaves.
A nude woman is seen in profile crouching and turning her head toward the viewer. She is backed up against a short pedestal or wal, on top of which a winged cupid bends towards the woman. On the right side is a slender tree, and behind the figures is an expansive landscape.
In this fan painting mounted as an album leaf, a fishing boat is moored at shore. Water stretches to the right, and above it calligraphic text recounting the story of Peach Blossom Spring. To the left of the boat, are green his, blossoming peach trees, and a man in a small cave.
Artist Life Dates
ca. 1495 - 1552
Century
16th century
Object Creation Date
1542
Accession Number
1976/1.212
Medium and Support
fan mounted as an album leaf, ink and color on gold paper
White marble sculpture of female figure, partially nude with a cloth draped loosely around her waist and over her left forearm. She holds a cluster of flowers in her left hand, and a single bloom in her right; a basket of flowers located on base to left and slightly behind figure.
A white marble statue of a young female figure, leaning forward holding a staff with eyes closed, her left hand held up to her right ear. A flowing, wind-swept garment drapes the figure. On the base to the left of the figure is a broken capital of a Corinthian column lying on its side.
