Painting study · Ink painting
Water Buffalo and Herdboyslate 1200s–early 1300s · Study 1977.200
Artist not recorded
late 1200s–early 1300s
Recorded as Hanging scroll; ink on silk, this horizontal work measures 50.5 × 23.7 cm using the museum’s painting dimensions. Explore the museum’s context and compare the format with a wall of your choice.
Museum collection reference. This work is not offered for sale by Physical Art For Crypto. Museum attribution does not imply a partnership or endorsement.
Context from the museum
In southern China, farmers use water buffalos to help plow their fields, which children often tend. In Buddhist teachings, the subject of herding or taming an ox was used to illustrate the 10 steps to enlightenment, or spiritual awakening. A single image may be read as a metaphorical representation of the Chan process of attaining enlightenment, the difficulty of which was likened to that of finding a strayed buffalo. Here, a buffalo is watered by a boy, another takes a bath in the pond. Chan paintings introduced to Japan were often remounted to fit them into niches for display ( tokonoma ), which explains the painting’s current format.
Museum description reproduced from its CC0 open-access record. Read the original catalog entry.
Read the dimensions before the image
The selected painting measurement for Water Buffalo and Herdboys is 50.5 cm wide and 23.7 cm high, equivalent to approximately 19.9 × 9.3 inches. Dividing width by height gives a format ratio of 2.13:1. The rectangular bounding area is 0.12 square meters; it describes the measured footprint, not the amount of paint or the monetary value.
On an illustrative 300 cm wall, the recorded width occupies 16.8% of the span before adding a frame. A centered placement leaves approximately 124.8 cm on each side before adding a frame. These are calculations by Physical Art For Crypto using museum measurements. They are not the museum’s display recommendations.
Questions to bring to your own collection
With Water Buffalo and Herdboys in view, identify one feature you can point to, then distinguish what the museum records from your personal response. Keep its medium, Hanging scroll; ink on silk, in your notes when comparing contemporary works.
- Which part of this horizontal composition catches your eye first?
- Would a 50.5 cm width still suit the space after allowing for furniture and a frame?
- What surface detail would you need to see in person or in a close photograph?
Explore physical scale
How large would this format feel on your wall?
Use this museum work’s recorded format as a reference. Adjust a blank wall and optional frame allowance to compare proportions. The museum painting is an educational reference and is not for sale here.
Calculation: outside width = recorded width + twice your frame allowance. This is a proportion study, not an installation assessment. It excludes furniture, hardware, load capacity, depth and delivery clearance. The display image may include margins absent from the recorded measurement.
Compare formats with the studio collection
These Lei-Kol works have the closest width-to-height ratios in the current catalog. This is a geometry comparison, not a claim of artistic similarity, equivalent value, or association with the museum artist.
| Painting | Width × height | Format ratio | USD catalog price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bipolar | 60 × 48 in | 1.25:1 | $3,499 |
| Brick and Mortar | 60 × 48 in | 1.25:1 | $3,499 |
| Dominion | 60 × 48 in | 1.25:1 | $3,499 |
Availability and delivery costs must be confirmed for the individual order.
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