Sketches from Life

A monkey and infant are sitting on and chained to an odd and archaic bluish-green ornamental garden rock. Next to them are vegetables ( a cabbage plant ) and insects ( a long-horned beetle and a cicada ). Each takes up an individual part of the handscroll. Though they compositionally appear to have little to do with each other, they suggest a richness in life and this painting. The coloring and brushwork is quite heavy yet still somewhat elegant, being related to the auspicious style of “ piled brocade” painting found at court. Though this work bears the cipher of the Song emperor Huizong (1082-1135) along with his seal and inscription in his famous “slender gold script”, these all appear to be later additions.