Artwork
清 胡遠 山水 扇面|Landscape
清 胡遠 山水 扇面|Landscape is an ink painting by the Impressionist artist Hu Yuan. It dates from 1885 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
You’re looking at a small, curved painting on paper, misty blue mountains rise behind a few bare trees and a tiny temple.
You’re looking at a small, curved painting on paper, misty blue mountains rise behind a few bare trees and a tiny temple.
Hu Yuan painted this on a folding fan in 1885, when fans were everyday objects, not just art. The ink is so light it feels like breath on paper, yet the mountains feel solid. He used alum paper, which keeps the colors soft and keeps the brushstrokes from bleeding.
If you like quiet mountains, look up more landscapes.
Subject & Meaning
Created in 1885, this folding fan painting by Hu Yuan depicts a traditional Chinese landscape centered on mountainous terrain. As a work within the landscape genre, the composition focuses on the natural form of the mountain, which serves as the primary subject and iconographic element. The artwork does not include specific narrative figures or explicit symbolic objects beyond the natural scenery itself.
Instead, the representation of the mountain reflects the broader artistic conventions of the Qing dynasty, where such natural forms were central to the genre. The piece presents a view of the Chinese landscape, emphasizing the grandeur of the mountain setting without additional allegorical layers identified in the available records.
Technique & Style
The work is a Qing‑era landscape rendered in ink with subtle color washes on alum‑treated paper, formed as a folding fan that functions as an album leaf. Its support consists of a thin paper substrate mounted to allow the fan to be opened and closed, a format typical of late‑19th‑century Chinese portable paintings. Executed in 1885, the piece measures approximately 17.6 cm in height and 51.4 cm in width, and depicts a stylized mountain within a composition that balances delicate brushwork with restrained pigmentation.
The handling reflects the fan’s dual role as both artwork and functional object, while the formal qualities emphasize a lyrical, atmospheric treatment of natural scenery.
History & Provenance
The landscape fan was produced in 1885 in China by the painter Hu Yuan as a folding fan mounted as an album leaf. It was created under the artist’s own hand, reflecting the landscape genre he specialized in. Following its creation, the work entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is recorded under accession number 1986.267.31 (Wikidata entry). The fan’s provenance thus traces from the artist’s studio in 1885 to its acquisition by the museum, establishing a clear ownership chain from creator to current holder.
The landscape fan leaf by Hu Yuan, dated 1885, is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. The work, which depicts mountains and is executed in ink and color on alum paper, is mounted as an album leaf. Its accession number is 1986.267.31.
The painting measures 17.6 cm in height and 51.4 cm in width. While the source identifies the creator as Hu Gongshou, the work is cataloged under the title 'Landscape' within the museum's holdings. No specific exhibition history is detailed in the provided records.
Overview
This landscape painting by Hu Yuan, created in 1885, originally adorned a folding fan before being mounted as an album leaf. Executed with ink and color on alum paper, the work presents a serene natural scene. It exemplifies the artist's approach to traditional Chinese landscape motifs, rendered with a delicate touch characteristic of the late Qing dynasty.
Context
This artwork's original form as a folding fan highlights its connection to daily life during the late Qing dynasty. In 1885, such fans served a practical purpose as common household items, rather than being exclusively regarded as fine art. Hu Yuan's painting thus bridges the gap between functional object and artistic expression, reflecting the integration of art into everyday culture.
Artist & collection
