Bamboo and rock 1350 - 1377

Deng Yu's "Bamboo and Rock" (1350-1377), now part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art collection, is a striking example of Chinese ink painting. Depicting a cluster of bamboo shoots emerging from a rocky outcropping, the artwork utilizes a minimal color palette, employing shades of black ink to create a sense of depth and texture. The artist's masterful brushstrokes, characteristic of the Yuan dynasty, capture the graceful sway of the bamboo stalks and the ruggedness of the rock formation, inviting the viewer to contemplate the balance between nature's delicate beauty and enduring strength.