元 佚名 墨龍圖 軸|Dragon

Muqi|Unidentified

14th century · Hanging scroll; ink on silk · Asian Art

Dragons were believed to dwell in mysterious places—clouds, mists, watery subterranean caves—and painters used a repertoire of techniques to capture that sense of mystery. Here, the artist has painted the background with a dark ink wash. The slightly lighter dragon emerges from the primordial ooze. Lightest in tone are the beast’s arresting eyes, which accordingly jump forth from the image.

Artist

Muqi|Unidentified

Date

14th century

Medium

Hanging scroll; ink on silk

Culture

China

Department

Asian Art

Credit line

Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Kwan S. Wong, 1986