Auspicious Painting of Rooster Amidst Bamboo, Cockscomb and Rock late Ming - early Qing

Editor: This is a beautiful, rather stately, painting titled "Auspicious Painting of Rooster Amidst Bamboo, Cockscomb and Rock." It’s by an anonymous artist, and the piece lives here at Harvard. It feels very symbolic, with a quiet strength. How do you interpret this work? Curator: Oh, I see it as a kind of visual poem. The rooster, so meticulously rendered, struts amidst the bamboo and cockscomb—each element whispering of resilience and good fortune. It's as if the artist captured a fleeting moment of pride, a feathered king surveying his humble, yet abundant kingdom. What does it evoke in you? Editor: I suppose it's the stillness that gets me. Curator: Yes! The stillness is deceptive. Underneath lies a vibrant hum of potential, of life bursting forth. It reminds me that even in quietude, there is an auspicious energy waiting to be unleashed. Editor: I see that now. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure!