Who painted 明陳子和古木酒仙圖軸|Drunken recluse beneath an old tree?

明陳子和古木酒仙圖軸|Drunken recluse beneath an old tree was painted by Chen Zihe in early 16th century.

Where can I see 明陳子和古木酒仙圖軸|Drunken recluse beneath an old tree?

明陳子和古木酒仙圖軸|Drunken recluse beneath an old tree is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is 明陳子和古木酒仙圖軸|Drunken recluse beneath an old tree?

明陳子和古木酒仙圖軸|Drunken recluse beneath an old tree is associated with Ming dynasty painting.

Artwork

明陳子和古木酒仙圖軸|Drunken recluse beneath an old tree

Chen Zihe , 1516

明陳子和古木酒仙圖軸|Drunken recluse beneath an old tree is an ink painting by the Ming dynasty painting artist Chen Zihe. It dates from 1516 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

Created in 1516 by Chen Zihe, this hanging scroll depicts a solitary man beneath an old tree, explicitly characterized by the theme of alcohol intoxication.

Created in 1516 by Chen Zihe, this hanging scroll depicts a solitary man beneath an old tree, explicitly characterized by the theme of alcohol intoxication. The composition centers on the figure of a recluse, whose state of drunkenness serves as the primary narrative element within the landscape setting. Iconographically, the pairing of the aged tree and the inebriated figure suggests a representation of the literati ideal of the wine-loving hermit, a common motif symbolizing withdrawal from societal constraints and an embrace of natural spontaneity.

The work functions as a visual embodiment of the 'drunken recluse' archetype, where the consumption of alcohol is not merely a physical act but a symbolic gesture of spiritual freedom and detachment from worldly affairs, situated within a sparse, ink-washed environment.

Technique & Style

The work is executed in monochrome ink on silk and mounted as a hanging scroll, a format well suited to its vertical landscape composition. Chen Zihe's brushwork is concentrated on the gnarled old tree that dominates the scene, rendered with the dry, textured strokes characteristic of Ming literati ink painting, while the figure of the drunken recluse beneath it is sketched with looser, more abbreviated lines. The uncolored ink palette heightens the contrast between the dense, knotted bark and the open space surrounding the solitary figure.

Held in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the silk support has been preserved in scroll format consistent with its original hanging display.

History & Provenance

The hanging scroll titled Drunken recluse beneath an old tree was painted in 1516 by the Ming‑period artist Chen Zihe. Executed in ink on silk, the work belongs to the landscape genre and portrays a man in a state of alcohol intoxication seated under a large tree. It was created in China and entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is held among the museum's Chinese paintings of the Ming period.

No documentation indicates a specific commission or patron, no accession number is listed, and the sources do not mention any prior exhibitions of the piece.

Overview

This hanging scroll, titled Drunken Recluse Beneath an Old Tree, was created by Chen Zihe in 1516. Executed in ink on silk, the painting captures a solitary figure in a state of repose, slumbering beneath the contorted branches of an ancient tree. The work exemplifies a common theme in scholarly art, depicting a moment of quiet withdrawal and personal freedom.