Artwork preview

Oracle bone fragment

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Oracle bone fragment by an unknown artist is a light-brown, irregularly shaped piece of bone. The bone is roughly trapezoidal with uneven edges. The surface features a series of carved symbols and marks. The background of the image is a plain gray color. The bone appears to have a rough texture with visible scratches and cracks. The carved symbols are arranged in a vertical line down the center of the bone. Some of the symbols are clear, while others are worn or damaged. The bone has a darker brown color at the bottom.

Artwork Details

Medium
Inscribed bone
Culture
China
Dimensions
416 × 624 px
Public Domain
Yes
Museum Record
View original
Palette