Shakyamuni under the Bodhi Tree

The historical Buddha Shakyamuni is seated in meditative posture upon the backs of three demons under the bodhi tree, where he achieved enlightenment. Because the position of Shakyamuni's hands do not conform to any accepted gesture, the specific religious event portrayed is unclear. The use of brilliant colors and archaism expressed in the rendering of the tree’s gnarled bark, the grotesque demons and stylized flowers in the foreground suggest an artist following the eccentric style of Chen Hongshou (1598-1652).