Landscape with House, Bridge over Stream

Maker(s)
Artist: Gong Xian (ca. 1610-1689)
Historical period(s)
Qing dynasty, 17th century
Medium
Ink and color on paper
Dimensions
H x W: 46.5 x 61.4 cm (18 5/16 x 24 3/16 in)
Geography
China
Credit Line
Purchase — Smithsonian Unrestricted Trust Funds
Collection
Arthur M. Sackler Collection
Accession Number
S1989.3
On View Location
Currently not on view
Classification(s)
Album, Painting
Type

Album leaf

Keywords
bridge, China, landscape, Qing dynasty (1644 - 1911), river
Provenance
Provenance research underway.
Label

The scholar-painter Gong Xian was renowned for his individualistic style of painting which featured alternating applications of layers of dark ink brushwork and wash on top of each other to create strong, somber landscape forms.  Gong Xian also exploited exaggerated contrasts of light and dark as well as open and closed spaces to achieve a striking luminosity and dramatic effect in his paintings.  While some of his most famous paintings are remarkable for the daring instability of their compositions, this painting is unusually strong and well-balanced.  In the inscription, Gong Xian mentions the artist Shen Zhou (1427-1509) whose style was characterized by blunt, forceful brushwork and stable images, and Gong seems to have been inspired by the earlier painter's work as a model for this album leaf.

Collection Area(s)
Chinese Art
Web Resources
Google Cultural Institute
SI Usage Statement

Usage Conditions Apply

There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page.

The information presented on this website may be revised and updated at any time as ongoing research progresses or as otherwise warranted. Pending any such revisions and updates, information on this site may be incomplete or inaccurate or may contain typographical errors. Neither the Smithsonian nor its regents, officers, employees, or agents make any representations about the accuracy, reliability, completeness, or timeliness of the information on the site. Use this site and the information provided on it subject to your own judgment. The Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery welcome information that would augment or clarify the ownership history of objects in their collections.

citation | Save this image How to download an image | Request Permission | Terms of Use

Related Objects