Who painted 明郭詡稱書圖軸|Weighing Books?

明郭詡稱書圖軸|Weighing Books was painted by Guo Xu in early 16th century.

Where can I see 明郭詡稱書圖軸|Weighing Books?

明郭詡稱書圖軸|Weighing Books is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is 明郭詡稱書圖軸|Weighing Books?

明郭詡稱書圖軸|Weighing Books is associated with Ming dynasty painting.

Artwork

明郭詡稱書圖軸|Weighing Books

Guo Xu , 1516

明郭詡稱書圖軸|Weighing Books is an ink painting by the Ming dynasty painting artist Guo Xu. It dates from 1516 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Accession no.: 1997.166
Credit line: Friends of Asian Art, Purchase, The B. Y. Lam Foundation Gift, 1997

About this work

Subject & Meaning

Created in 1516 by Guo Xu, the artwork visualizes the act of weighing literary volumes, suggesting a cultural valuation of knowledge and scholarship.

The painting depicts a genre scene centered on a man operating a weighing scale to measure books, a composition explicitly recorded as the work's primary subject. Created in 1516 by Guo Xu, the artwork visualizes the act of weighing literary volumes, suggesting a cultural valuation of knowledge and scholarship. The iconography relies on the juxtaposition of the physical scale with the books, implying that learning is a commodity of significant worth.

While the specific narrative context remains a simple genre depiction, the action of weighing books serves as a symbolic representation of the high esteem accorded to literature and intellectual pursuit in the Ming dynasty. The visual focus remains strictly on the interaction between the figure, the instrument, and the texts.

Technique & Style

Created in 1516, the hanging scroll Weighing Books by Guo Xu is executed in ink and color on a silk support. As a genre scene, the work depicts a man operating a weighing scale alongside books, rendered through traditional Chinese painting methods. The medium of ink and pigments applied to silk allows for the delicate line work and tonal variations characteristic of the artist's style during the Ming dynasty.

The vertical format of the hanging scroll dictates the composition's arrangement, focusing the viewer's attention on the specific interaction between the figure and the objects. The work is held in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection, preserving the material integrity of the silk and the applied colors.

History & Provenance

Guo Xu created Weighing Books (稱書圖) in 1516 in China, executed as a hanging scroll in ink and color on silk. The work entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it remains. No earlier ownership records are documented in the available sources.

Overview

Guo Xu's "Weighing Books" (Ming dynasty, 1516) is rendered in ink and color on a silk hanging scroll. This painting presents a genre scene, depicting a scholar engaged in the seemingly mundane act of weighing a stack of books. However, the work subtly challenges conventional assessments of intellectual worth, inviting viewers to consider a deeper, symbolic interpretation of its subject matter.

Context

The motif of books and scales appears in various artistic traditions, often serving as a metaphor for judgment, value, or the intangible nature of knowledge. Guo Xu's rendition contributes to this broader artistic discourse by playfully subverting the literal act of weighing. It prompts reflection on how intellectual contributions are perceived and evaluated within cultural frameworks, extending beyond the physical object.