"Melon and Mouse" 2
Emperor Zhu Zhanji, the Xuande Emperor of the Ming Dynasty, proves he had a playful side in this charming ink wash painting from 1427. Instead of a majestic dragon or grand landscape, he painted a plump, fuzzy rat perched on a rock, gazing up longingly at hanging melons and vines. The loose, spontaneous brushstrokes and the calligraphy declaring it 'playfully painted by the Imperial Brush' suggest this was a rare moment of leisure for the ruler. The page is covered in red collector seals, showing that generations of art lovers have coveted this whimsical imperial sketch.
- Technique
- Ink wash
- Material
- Paper
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