Artwork preview

Oracle bone fragment

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

The image shows a light-brown, irregularly shaped piece of bone or stone. It is long and thin, with rough edges and a curved shape, tapering from a wider bottom to a narrower top. The bottom part has a jagged edge and appears to be broken off, while the top is uneven. The surface features numerous small, shallow scratches, etchings, or carvings that resemble writing. These markings are mostly vertical and horizontal lines. The background is a solid light-gray color, providing a neutral contrast to the object. The object by context is an oracle bone fragment.

Artwork Details

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