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Plants and Insects in an Autumn Garden

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Plants and Insects in an Autumn Garden

Plants and Insects in an Autumn Garden

Artist Wang Zhao (Chinese, active during Jiajing Period (1522-1566))
DateMing Dynasty (1368-1644), Jiajing Period
Dimensions12 1/2 x 104 in.
MediumHandscroll, watercolor on paper
ClassificationDrawings
Credit LinePurchased with funds from the Libbey Endowment, Gift of Edward Drummond Libbey
Object number
1956.14
Not on View
Label TextBoldly painted, this long, horizontal rendering of an insect-filled garden with autumn blooms was never intended to be seen all at once. Rather, a seated viewer unrolled it only an arm’s-length section at a time, viewing it from right to left. Looking at handscrolls was therefore an intimate and interactive experience—like looking through a book. Because each section of the scroll was revealed gradually, the act of exploring the painting incorporated a sense of discovery and anticipation.

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