Who painted 清崔鶴李香君小影軸|Portrait of Li Xiangjun?

清崔鶴李香君小影軸|Portrait of Li Xiangjun was painted by Cui He in dated 1817.

Where can I see 清崔鶴李香君小影軸|Portrait of Li Xiangjun?

清崔鶴李香君小影軸|Portrait of Li Xiangjun is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is 清崔鶴李香君小影軸|Portrait of Li Xiangjun?

清崔鶴李香君小影軸|Portrait of Li Xiangjun is associated with Qing dynasty painting.

Artwork

清崔鶴李香君小影軸|Portrait of Li Xiangjun

Cui He , 1817

清崔鶴李香君小影軸|Portrait of Li Xiangjun is an ink painting by the Qing dynasty painting artist Cui He. It dates from 1817 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

The composition focuses on a single female figure holding a hand fan, an attribute closely associated with her identity in literary and theatrical traditions.

Executed in 1817 by the Qing dynasty artist Cui He, this hanging scroll portrays Li Xiangjun, a celebrated historical woman. The composition focuses on a single female figure holding a hand fan, an attribute closely associated with her identity in literary and theatrical traditions. While the specific narrative context of the scene is not detailed in the available records, the inclusion of the fan serves as a primary iconographic marker linking the sitter to her famous persona.

As a portrait genre work created in China, the painting functions as a visual representation of this cultural figure, capturing her likeness through ink and color on paper. The work stands as a depiction of a renowned woman, utilizing the handheld fan to signify her distinct character within the visual arts.

Technique & Style

The work is a hanging scroll executed in ink with subtle color washes on paper, a format typical of Qing-era portraiture. Cui He employed fine brushwork to render a young woman holding a hand fan, capturing delicate facial features and the soft folds of her garments. The composition emphasizes linear elegance and a restrained palette, reflecting the literati preference for understated elegance. According to the Metropolitan Museum of Art's catalogue, the scroll dates to 1817 and originates from China.

History & Provenance

Created in 1817 in China, this hanging scroll portrait depicts Li Xiangjun holding a hand fan. The work was executed by the artist Cui He using ink and color on paper and is classified as a portrait. While the specific circumstances of its commission and the details of its ownership chain prior to museum acquisition are not detailed in the available records, the painting is currently held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

No accession number is disclosed in the available documentation, and the sources consulted do not record any exhibition history for this piece.

Overview

This hanging scroll, titled Portrait of Li Xiangjun, was created by Cui He in 1817. Executed with ink and color on paper, the painting presents a depiction of Li Xiangjun, a celebrated courtesan and poet from the 17th century. The artist rendered her image more than a century after her lifetime, preserving her historical presence through this artistic tribute.

Context

Cui He produced this portrait in 1817, more than a hundred years after Li Xiangjun's lifetime in the 17th century. This temporal distance highlights the enduring cultural significance of Li Xiangjun, whose story and artistic contributions continued to resonate. The painting thus functions as an act of historical remembrance, ensuring her legacy persisted through visual art across generations.