Artwork preview

Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara (Guanyin)

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

The sculpture depicts Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara (Guanyin) sitting cross-legged on a pedestal. The figure has a serene expression with eyes closed and a small dot on the forehead. The hair is styled in an elaborate headdress, featuring multiple small faces. The sculpture wears a draped robe. The right hand is raised in a gesture, while the left hand rests on the knee. The material appears to be weathered stone or wood.

Artwork Details

Date
late 10th–early 11th century
Medium
Wood (foxglove) with pigments, gilding, quartz and carnelian; single woodblock construction
Culture
China
Dimensions
468 × 624 px
Public Domain
Yes
Museum Record
View original
Palette