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 quadrilateral with one side curved and one corner extending downwards. The surface of the bone has several lines of small, intricate carvings that appear to be a form of ancient writing. The carvings are arranged in a vertical column down the center of the bone. The bone has a rough texture and appears to have some darker spots or discolorations on its surface. The background of the image is a plain gray color.

Artwork Details

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