Mynah Birds and Rocks
Mount: 106 1/4 × 27 1/4 inches (269.88 × 69.22 cm)
Early Chan (Zen) Buddhist masters, who favored ordinary subjects, often depicted mynah birds because of their subtle appearance. Bada Shanren became a monk when his imperial family fell to the Qing dynasty. Following Chan tradition, Bada captured the essence of the scene with robust brushwork and minimal detail. For instance, the swift strokes above the birds give the painting a slight sense of unease.
Dr. Victoria Contag von Winterfeldt (1906-1973), Munich, Germany, by April 1952-1967 [1];
Purchased from Dr. Victoria Contag von Winterfeldt by The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, MO, 1967.
NOTES:
[1] Victoria von Winterfeldt was a sinologist at the University of Mainz. This object was on loan from her to the Nelson-Atkins from April 1952 until its purchase in 1967.
