Naga King Paying Respect to Avalokitesvara

CHINA; Ming dynasty

Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva has a long, thin face and wears a tall headdress topped with a flaming jewel. Intricately tied ribbons hang down the front of the robe. The Bodhisattva’s left hand holds a long-stemmed lotus, and the right palm is held out facing up.
The Naga King in the bottom left corner is smaller in stature. He has a green, hairy face, pointed ears, and fangs. A robe is wrapped around his stout body. With palms joined, the Naga King stands respectfully in front of Avalokitesvara. Above the Bodhisattva, there are faint lines of clouds. Two strange deities look down from within the clouds. One of the deities is skeletal in appearance, with hollow eyes, pointed hair, and holds a staff. The deity at the top of the picture has a long beard and a billowing stole. The signature of the artist, Chen Hongshou, is visible in the lower right corner.
The painting has a clear compositional hierarchy, with the figures varying in size according to their importance. The “iron-wire” lines and shading used to depict the folds in the robes of Avalokitesvara and the Naga King demonstrate the skill of the artist, while the unique portrayals of the figures display his creativity.