六祖・芦雁・叭々鳥図|Huineng, the Sixth Patriarch of Zen, with Geese and Myna
The Met
Artist: Unkoku Tōeki 雲谷等益(Japanese, 1591–1644)
Date: first half 17th century
Department: Asian Art
Classification: Paintings
Medium: Set of three hanging scrolls; ink on paper
Dimensions: Image (each): 42 3/8 × 18 1/4 in. (107.6 × 46.4 cm) Overall with mounting (each): 76 1/4 × 21 in. (193.7 × 53.3 cm)
Credit Line: Mary and Cheney Cowles Collection, Gift of Mary and Cheney Cowles, 2021
Visual Descriptions
AI GeneratedVisual Summary
Brief Description
Three vertical ink wash panels: a dark bird, a bearded man with a dog, and two birds
Detailed Description
Three vertical ink wash panels are presented side-by-side on a light brown, speckled background with a gold-flecked border. The overall tone of the panels is muted, with shades of black, gray, and white.The left panel features a dark bird, possibly a crow, perched on a gnarled, leafless tree branch. The bird faces left, its body mostly dark with some lighter markings on its wings. The branch extends from the lower left of the panel, curving upwards and then horizontally, with a smaller branch extending to the right. The upper two-thirds of the panel are empty.The central panel shows a seated, bearded man in profile, facing right. He wears dark robes with a lighter undergarment visible on his back and arm. He is hunched over, looking down at something in front of him. To his right, on a low, dark rectangular object, sits a small, fluffy white dog, also facing right. Below the man, on the ground, are two long, thin objects, one resembling a brush and the other a knife. The upper portion of this panel contains faint, wispy ink washes suggesting distant mountains or clouds. Two red seals are visible at the bottom left.The right panel depicts two birds on a flat ground plane. The larger bird, a duck or goose, is in the foreground, facing right with its beak open. Its feathers are rendered with varying shades of gray, creating a patterned effect. Behind and slightly to the left of the larger bird is a smaller, lighter-colored bird, possibly a chick, facing left. In the upper right, several vertical, angular strokes suggest reeds or bamboo. Two red seals are visible at the bottom right.
Generated by gemini-2.5-flash
