two chicks facing center, one above the other at opposite sides, place at lower third of sheet; blank background

Two Chicks, c. 1694

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Ink on paperexpand_more

Gift of Ruth and Bruce Daytonexpand_more  97.133.1

Not on Viewexpand_more

Zhu Da, also known as Bada Shanren, often expressed complex ideas using simple images. It is likely that these quickly rendered chicks express the artist's loyalty to the former Ming dynasty, while indicating his contempt for the ruling Manchus. Zhu Da saw himself as being in, but not part of, the society around him. With his imperial lineage eradicated by the conquering Manchus, he was unable to submit to the foreign rulers.

Although the chicks are of the same species and face in complementary directions, they do not look at each other. Each isolated chick exists in a separate world. The inscription reads: Painted in the Garden of Yellow Bamboo by Bada Shanren, the nineteenth day of the third lunar month. The nineteenth day of the third lunar month is now known to commemorate the day in 1644 when the last Ming emperor hanged himself as rebel forces approached the capital.

Details
Title
Two Chicks
Artist Life
1626-1705
Role
Artist
Accession Number
97.133.1
Curator Approved

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two chicks facing center, one above the other at opposite sides, place at lower third of sheet; blank background