Object Image

Squirrels on the Chestnut Tree

Songtian is known for his depictions of squirrels in a monochrome style characterized by crisp, decisive brushstrokes. He may have been a Chan (Zen) priest-painter,or perhaps a Daoist painter, active in the Hangzhou region of China. From there his works spread to Japan.

Credit: John L. Severance Fund

1300s

Hanging scroll; ink on paper

97.0 x 39.4 cm

1979.70

Image and text: The Cleveland Museum of Art, 2023

Where you'll find this

The Cleveland Museum of Art
The Cleveland Museum of Art

Permanent collection