Water-Moon Avalokiteshvara

A seated bodhisattva, identified by the record as Avalokiteshvara, sits in a relaxed pose within a pale halo, draped in layered robes of white, green and red over a dark ground. Ornate jewelry and a flowing veil frame the pink face, while faint red blossoms and foliage rise at the lower edge of the silk.

Look closer: Small red blossoms and leafy sprays sit at the bottom edge of the silk, nearly lost in the dark ground.

Artist

Unidentified artist

Date

14th century

Medium

Hanging scroll; ink, color, and gold on silk

Source

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Size

3001 × 4000 px

Credit (appreciated, not required for public-domain works): The Metropolitan Museum of Art, H. O. Havemeyer Collection, Bequest of Mrs. H. O. Havemeyer, 1929