Rock in the form of a fantastic mountain

A dark, irregular stone rises in several craggy peaks, pitted with holes and fissures that open through its mass. It sits on a tiered, carved wooden stand with scalloped edges. The black-and-white photograph is lit evenly against a plain gray backdrop, emphasizing the rock's textured surface and silhouette.

Look closer: Small pierced holes run through the rock's lower left and center, letting light pass through the stone.

Artist

Unknown

Date

18th–19th century (?)

Medium

Black Lingbi limestone; wood stand

Source

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Size

1904 × 1736 px

Credit (appreciated, not required for public-domain works): The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Rosenblum Family Collection, Gift of Anna Rosenblum Palmer, 2011