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Shang Bronze

Photo: Elizabeth Mann

Shang Bronze

1947

Morris Graves

born Fox Valley, Oregon, 1910; died Loleta, California, 2001

Graves imagined the emblems on ancient Chinese bronzes becoming re-animated, made monstrous and distorted in response to the evils of the modern world. In the collection of the Seattle Art Museum, this ancient ceremonial ax, a Qi, is decorated with a stylized serpent that, in Graves’ reinterpretation is a vicious, hissing snake, an embellishment befitting a weapon.
Ink and transparent and opaque watercolor on green-toned paper, now faded to tan
Sheet: 13 1/8 × 9 1/4 in. (33.3 × 23.5 cm)
Mat: 25 1/8 × 7 5/8 in. (63.8 × 19.4 cm)
Estate of Dorothy C. Malone
97.21
Photo: Elizabeth Mann
location
Not currently on view

Resources

Exhibition HistoryIn chronological order:

Seattle, Seattle Art Museum, Asian Affinities, August 28, 1999-January 2, 2001.

Seattle, Seattle Art Museum, Morris Graves and Seattle, November 1, 2001-October 20, 2002.

Seattle Art Museum respectfully acknowledges that we are on Indigenous land, the traditional territories of the Coast Salish people. We honor our ongoing connection to these communities past, present, and future.

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