Monkeys on Rocks and Trees
17th century
Medium
Two-panel folding screen; ink on paper
Dimensions
59 1/4 × 66 7/16 in. (150.5 × 168.8 cm)
Classification
Paintings
Culture & Period
Japan · Edo period (1615–1868)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
H. O. Havemeyer Collection, Bequest of Mrs. H. O. Havemeyer, 1929
Accession Number
29.100.496
Tags
Art Historical Context
Behold the lively *Monkeys on Rocks and Trees a two-panel folding screen by the Japanese artist Sesson Shūkei, created in the 17th century the Edo period (161–1868). Crafted in ink on paper and measuring an impressive 59¼ × 66⅞ inches, this work exemplifies the refined artistry of byōbu screens, which served as elegant room dividers in affluent Japanese homes, transforming interiors into immersive natural scenes. Sesson Shūkei, working in the suiboku-ga (ink monochrome) tradition, captures the playful energy of monkeys clambering among rugged rocks and twisting trees with fluid, expressive br...
About the Artist
Sesson Shūkei · 1500–1600
ca. 1504–ca. 1589