Who painted 明陳洪綬山水花鳥人物圖扇冊|Landscapes and Flowers?

明陳洪綬山水花鳥人物圖扇冊|Landscapes and Flowers was painted by Chen Hongshou in first half of the 17th century.

Where can I see 明陳洪綬山水花鳥人物圖扇冊|Landscapes and Flowers?

明陳洪綬山水花鳥人物圖扇冊|Landscapes and Flowers is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is 明陳洪綬山水花鳥人物圖扇冊|Landscapes and Flowers?

明陳洪綬山水花鳥人物圖扇冊|Landscapes and Flowers is associated with Baroque.

Artwork

明陳洪綬山水花鳥人物圖扇冊|Landscapes and Flowers

Chen Hongshou , 1624

明陳洪綬山水花鳥人物圖扇冊|Landscapes and Flowers is an ink painting by the Baroque artist Chen Hongshou. It dates from 1624 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

Chen Hongshou's 1624 fan album, titled Landscapes and Flowers, depicts a solitary man situated within diverse natural settings.

Chen Hongshou's 1624 fan album, titled Landscapes and Flowers, depicts a solitary man situated within diverse natural settings. As a landscape painting, the work integrates human figures into scenes of mountains, flora, and water, reflecting the artist's characteristic focus on the relationship between humanity and nature. The inclusion of a male figure within these idyllic or rugged environments suggests themes of solitude, contemplation, or scholarly retreat, common motifs in late Ming literati art.

While the specific iconographic details of individual fans are not fully enumerated in the available records, the consistent presence of the man across the twelve leaves indicates a unified thematic exploration of the individual's place in the natural world. The use of gold paper and ink with color further elevates these scenes, blending the mundane presence of the figure with the decorative and spiritual aspirations of the landscape tradition.

Technique & Style

Created in 1624 by Chen Hongshou, this work comprises twelve folding fans that have been remounted as album leaves. The artist executed the landscapes, flowers, and figures using ink and mineral colors applied directly onto gold paper supports. This choice of gold ground provides a luminous backdrop that enhances the vibrancy of the pigments and defines the work's formal character.

The individual leaves measure approximately 24.1 cm in height and 52.1 cm in width. The composition integrates diverse genres, blending naturalistic depictions of flora and terrain with human figures, showcasing the artist's versatility within the intimate format of the fan album.

History & Provenance

The album of twelve folding fans, Landscapes and Flowers, was painted by Chen Hongshou in 1624, during the Ming dynasty. The work is executed in ink and color on gold paper. It is now held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Context

Chen Hongshou's twelve-fan album, dated 1624, exemplifies Ming-era integration of figure and landscape within the shanshui tradition. The work, classified as a landscape painting and housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, reflects the artist's role in advancing narrative scenes on folding-fan supports, a format that influenced later album-leaf compositions. Scholars cite the piece as evidence of contemporary aesthetic preferences for subtle coloration on gold-paper substrates and as a benchmark for understanding the sociopolitical undertones embedded in depictions of solitary men within natural settings.

Overview

This album, titled Landscapes and Flowers, comprises twelve individual folding fans by Chen Hongshou, created in 1624. Rendered with ink and color on luminous gold paper, each leaf presents intricate scenes of mountains, twisted trees, and figures in traditional robes. The collection offers a comprehensive view of the artist's distinctive approach to various subjects, unified by its unique format.