Artwork
清 李鱓 燕柳圖 軸|Swallows
清 李鱓 燕柳圖 軸|Swallows is an ink painting by the Baroque artist Li Shan. It dates from 1721 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
- Accession no.
- 1989.363.162
- Credit line
- Bequest of John M. Crawford Jr., 1988
About this work
Subject & Meaning
Swallows appear in Chinese art as emblems of spring and renewal, often linked to the return of migrants and the revival of life after winter.
The painting depicts a bird perched among willow branches, rendered with delicate ink and color on a hanging scroll. Swallows appear in Chinese art as emblems of spring and renewal, often linked to the return of migrants and the revival of life after winter. In this composition, the bird’s presence amid fresh foliage underscores themes of seasonal transition and the fleeting beauty of nature, a common motif in eighteenth-century scholar-amateur painting.
Technique & Style
Created in 1721, Swallows is executed as a hanging scroll using ink and color on paper. The work falls within the landscape genre while depicting birds, specifically swallows, amidst willow elements. As a product of Qing dynasty China, the piece demonstrates the artist Li Shan's handling of traditional brushwork and pigment application on a paper support.
The combination of ink outlines with colored washes characterizes the formal approach to rendering the natural subjects within the vertical scroll format.
History & Provenance
Li Shan painted the hanging scroll titled Swallows in 1721 in China, using ink and color on paper; the work depicts a bird in a landscape style. The scroll was recorded in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection, where it has been housed since its acquisition. Its creation is documented with an inception date of 1721‑01‑01, confirming the year of execution.
The piece remains part of the museum’s holdings, reflecting a continuous provenance from its original production to present ownership within the institution.
The painting is held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art. According to the associated Wikidata record, the work is part of the museum's collection and is located at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. No specific accession number is provided in the available sources, and no exhibition history is documented.
Context
Li Shan's 1721 hanging scroll titled "Swallows" is executed in ink and color on paper and portrays a bird, illustrating the avian subject matter characteristic of his practice. The work is classified as a landscape painting and is part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection, highlighting its recognized significance within Qing dynasty painting and the scholarly study of bird imagery in Chinese art.
Overview
Created in 1721, Swallows and Willows is a hanging scroll by Li Shan (1686–1762), a prominent member of the Yangzhou Eight Eccentrics. Executed in ink and color on paper, the work depicts two swallows perched upon a slender, arching willow branch. Li Shan employs a distinctive style characterized by fluid, calligraphic brushwork and a restrained palette, allowing the ink strokes to appear light and airy so that the birds seem to float against the void.
The composition focuses on the interaction between the delicate avian forms and the supple vegetation, emphasizing the resilience of the willow as it bends without breaking. This piece reflects the artist's mature period, where he moved beyond strict academic conventions to embrace a more expressive, individualistic approach typical of the Yangzhou school. In the context of Chinese literati painting, the imagery of swallows and willows often carries symbolic weight, representing themes of spring, renewal, and the flexibility required to navigate life's challenges.
The work stands as a testament to Li Shan's ability to infuse traditional bird-and-flower motifs with a sense of spontaneity and emotional resonance.
Legacy
The piece exemplifies the period’s nuanced approach to bird imagery, offering a reference point for later Chinese artists who explored the interplay of nature, symbolism, and brush technique in hanging scroll formats.
Artist & collection
