Cat and Butterfly by Min Zhen

Min Zhen (Chinese, 1730–after 1788) ~ Cat and Butterfly, ca. 1788 (ink on paper). From Album of Miscellaneous Subjects | src Cleveland museum of art

Min Zhen painted this album for his friend Dailili Shanren in exchange for a scholar’s stone.

Cat and butterfly [ 貓和蝴蝶 ] are homophones for the characters “mao die” 耄耋 (octogenarian), so this painting expresses hope that the artist’s friend will live a long life.

Daruma (Buddhist Saint)

Daruma (Buddhist Saint), 18th-19th century. Edo period (1615–1868). Japan, Ink and color on paper. Artist School of Katsushika Hokusai.(Japanese, Tokyo (Edo) 1760–1849) (Photo by Heritage Art-Heritage Images-Sepia Times) | src Getty Images