Zhong Kui

Ren Yi (Ren Bonian)

Hanging scroll, ink and color on paper

Metropolitan Museum of Art

This striking hanging scroll portrays Zhong Kui, the legendary demon-queller of Chinese folklore, seated in flowing coral-colored robes with a thick dark beard and piercing gaze. Ren Yi, one of the most celebrated painters of the Shanghai School, renders the figure with confident, expressive brushwork and delicate ink washes, surrounding him with scholarly objects like books, a vase of branches, and a bronze stand that hint at refined leisure despite the subject's fearsome reputation. The artist's calligraphic inscription in the upper corner adds literary weight, grounding the painting in centuries of tradition while showcasing Ren's innovative, loose style that influenced generations of Chinese painters. Displayed at home, this piece brings both protective symbolism and masterful ink painting technique into any room.