Landscape after Dong Yuan

Maker(s)
Artist: Bada Shanren 八大山人 (朱耷) (1626-1705)
Historical period(s)
Qing dynasty, ca. 1693
Medium
Ink on paper
Dimensions
H x W (image): 26.5 x 14.3 cm (10 7/16 x 5 5/8 in)
Geography
China
Credit Line
Purchase — funds provided by the E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Foundation in honor of the 75th Anniversary of the Freer Gallery of Art
Collection
Freer Gallery of Art
Accession Number
F1998.27
On View Location
Currently not on view
Classification(s)
Album, Painting
Type

Album leaf

Keywords
China, landscape, Qing dynasty (1644 - 1911), Shao F. Wang collection
Provenance

To 1997
Wang Fangyu (1913-1997), to 1997 [1]

To 1998
Shao F. Wang, New York and Short Hills, NJ, by descent, to 1998

From 1998
Freer Gallery of Art, purchased from Shao F. Wang in 1998

Notes:

[1] According to Curatorial Note 3, Joseph Chang and Stephen D. Allee, May 7, 1998, and Joseph Chang and Stephen D. Allee, August 18, 1998, in the object record.

Previous Owner(s) and Custodian(s)

Shao F. Wang
Wang Fangyu 1913-1997

Label

In general, Bada Shanren was a faithful follower of the so-called Southern School of landscape painting--as enunciated by Dong Qichang (1555-1636)--which started with the tenth-century master Dong Yuan (died 962). Over the years, Bada painted several landscapes with inscriptions, such as the one on this intimate album leaf, stating that he was emulating Beiyuan (Dong Yuan). In this work, Bada's reinterpretation of Dong Yuan's style lies in the simple composition and gentle brushwork that convey the "blandness and naturalness" (pingdan tianzhen) considered to be characteristic of Dong's landscape paintings.

Published References
  • Joseph Chang, Qianshen Bai, (Catalogue) Stephen Allee. In Pursuit of Heavenly Harmony: Paintings and Calligraphy by Bada Shanren from the Bequest of Wang Fangyu and Sum Wai. Exh. cat. Washington. cat. 7, p. 52.
  • Yuan Li. "近距离阅读大师." Exploring the Enigmas of Bada Shanren – Freer’s Special Exhibition Review., 284. Shanghai, May 2016. p. 69.
  • Thomas Lawton, Thomas W. Lentz. Beyond the Legacy: Anniversary Acquisitions for the Freer Gallery of Art and the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery. vol. 1 Washington, 1998. p. 244, fig. 1.
Collection Area(s)
Chinese Art
Web Resources
Google Cultural Institute
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