Daoist Riding Horned Animal 960 - 1279

This ink-on-silk painting, “Daoist Riding Horned Animal,” by the Song dynasty artist Tong Rênyi depicts a Daoist figure riding a horned animal, likely a mythical creature associated with the Daoist religion. The painting, currently housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, showcases the artist's masterful brushstrokes, conveying the movement and energy of the scene in a minimalist style. The composition emphasizes the figure's graceful poise and the powerful, yet serene, nature of the animal. This work exemplifies the aesthetic values of the Song Dynasty, known for its delicate and refined ink-and-wash paintings, often depicting scenes from nature or Daoist mythology.