Mogao Cave 17: Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva

CHINA, Gansu, Dunhuang; Northern Song dynasty

This late 10th century picture was painted on a grid of 20 faint red lines, drawn 4.5 cm apart in each direction. The paper was colored white before the image was drafted with a reed pen.
Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva has long black hair and a slim waist. The Bodhisattva stands on lotus pedestals, wearing a necklace, a beaded ornament, and a headdress adorned with a Buddha image. A stole is draped over the arms, and a white sash hangs down below the feet. A cup is held in the right hand, and the left hand holds a lotus flower painted in color without any prior outlining. The dark ink used to portray the hair and eyes stands out from the light colors on the body and clothing. The painting is creased in some areas.