Portrait of Bodhidharma 1734 - 1766

This painting, "Portrait of Bodhidharma" (1734-1766), was created by Japanese Zen monk and artist Hakuin Ekaku (c. 1686-1769). It depicts the founder of Zen Buddhism, Bodhidharma, with a bold and expressive brushstroke style characteristic of Hakuin’s work. The painting is rendered in ink on paper and depicts the subject in profile, with a large, bold, and slightly caricatured head. The painting is a powerful and dynamic work that embodies the energy and vitality of Zen Buddhism. The artwork is housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.