Artwork
清 杜湘 仿古山水 冊|Landscapes after old masters
清 杜湘 仿古山水 冊|Landscapes after old masters is an ink painting by the Chinese Orthodox School artist Du Xiang. It dates from 1883 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
It belongs to the landscape genre and, according to the catalog, depicts a mountain, a subject traditionally associated with Chinese landscape art.
The painting presents a mountain landscape rendered in ink and color on paper as part of a seven‑leaf album created in 1883 in China. It belongs to the landscape genre and, according to the catalog, depicts a mountain, a subject traditionally associated with Chinese landscape art. The album comprises seven leaves, each painted with ink and color on paper, reflecting the traditional Chinese landscape genre.
The work is listed in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is catalogued as a painting.
Technique & Style
The work is presented as a seven‑leaf album executed in ink and polychrome pigments on paper, a format typical of Qing‑era hand‑painted albums. The support consists of individual paper leaves bound together, each measuring approximately 25.7 cm in height by 16.2 cm in width, as recorded in the cataloguing data. Executed in China in 1883, the piece belongs to the landscape genre and depicts a stylized mountain scene rendered with layered brushstrokes and subtle color washes that echo the conventions of earlier master landscapes.
Its formal composition balances compositional depth with restrained tonal modulation, reflecting the artist’s engagement with traditional techniques while employing a compact, portable medium.
History & Provenance
The album Landscapes after Old Masters was created by Du Xiang in 1883, a date confirmed by both the Metropolitan Museum of Art's cataloguing and the Wikidata entry for the work. It was produced in China as an album of seven leaves executed in ink and color on paper. The painting entered the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection, where it is currently held.
No additional details regarding an earlier ownership chain, commission, or specific creation circumstances are documented in the available sources.
The album Landscapes after old masters by Du Xiang, dated 1883, is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The institution serves as both the current owner and the physical location of the work. While the object is cataloged within the museum's holdings as a painting on paper comprising seven leaves, the provided records do not specify a distinct inventory or accession number.
Furthermore, there is no information available in the current sources regarding any past or planned exhibitions featuring this specific album.
Overview
Du Xiang's Landscapes after Old Masters, created in 1883, is an album consisting of seven leaves rendered in ink and color on paper. This collection of paintings presents a series of intimate landscape scenes, characterized by misty mountains, flowing rivers, and verdant trees. The work reflects a long-standing artistic tradition in which painters engaged with and reinterpreted the styles of earlier masters.
Context
This album was created with a specific viewing context in mind: the private study of a scholar. Its modest dimensions and introspective character distinguish it from larger paintings designed for public exhibition or grand architectural settings. The artwork provided an opportunity for quiet contemplation and aesthetic engagement during moments of solitude, reflecting the refined tastes and intellectual pursuits typically associated with its intended audience.
Artist & collection
