Who painted 清劉德六松鼠葡萄扇面|Squirrel and Grape?

清劉德六松鼠葡萄扇面|Squirrel and Grape was painted by Liu Deliu in dated 1868.

Where can I see 清劉德六松鼠葡萄扇面|Squirrel and Grape?

清劉德六松鼠葡萄扇面|Squirrel and Grape is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is 清劉德六松鼠葡萄扇面|Squirrel and Grape?

清劉德六松鼠葡萄扇面|Squirrel and Grape is associated with Impressionism.

Artwork

清劉德六松鼠葡萄扇面|Squirrel and Grape

Liu Deliu , 1868

清劉德六松鼠葡萄扇面|Squirrel and Grape is an ink painting by the Impressionist artist Liu Deliu. It dates from 1868 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

Consequently, the significance attributed to the squirrel and grape imagery remains unspecified in the available documentation.

The work portrays a squirrel alongside grapes, which are the only identified depicted subjects in the documented records. These elements constitute the painting's iconography as described in the sources, but the texts do not elaborate on any specific symbolic interpretation or intended meaning of the motifs within the traditional Chinese artistic context. Consequently, the significance attributed to the squirrel and grape imagery remains unspecified in the available documentation.

Technique & Style

This work is a folding fan mounted as an album leaf, executed in ink and color on alum paper. The composition depicts a squirrel amid grapevines, rendered with delicate brushwork characteristic of the artist's style. The alum-sized paper provides a smooth surface that allows for precise, controlled strokes and subtle washes.

The fan format, typical of Qing-dynasty literati painting, is here repurposed as an album leaf. The painting measures 17.6 by 51 centimeters, a standard fan dimension that emphasizes the horizontal spread of the grapevine.

History & Provenance

Created in 1868 in China, this folding fan leaf depicting a squirrel and grapes was executed by the artist Liu Deliu using ink and color on alum paper. The work, which measures 17.6 by 51 centimeters, was originally produced as a functional fan before being mounted as an album leaf. The piece currently resides in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

No specific details regarding the original commissioner, intermediate ownership history, or the circumstances of its acquisition by the museum are provided in the available records.

Overview

Created in 1868 by the Qing dynasty artist Liu Deliu, this work depicts a squirrel clinging to a grapevine while nibbling on plump purple fruit. Executed in ink and color on alum paper, the piece was originally painted on a folding fan before being remounted as an album leaf. The composition features a single, dynamic figure surrounded by curling leaves rendered in soft ink and pale green washes.

Liu employs quick, light brushstrokes reminiscent of calligraphy to articulate the texture of the squirrel's fur and the delicate veins of the foliage. This format reflects the tradition of fan painting, where the intimate scale was designed for handheld viewing rather than wall display. The subject of squirrels and grapes is a common motif in Chinese art, often symbolizing fertility and abundance due to the prolific nature of the vine and the animal.

As a work from the late Qing period, it demonstrates the artist's skill in blending precise observation with expressive, fluid brushwork within a compact, decorative format.

Context

Originally conceived as a component of a folding fan, this painting was designed for personal enjoyment rather than public display. Its diminutive size, making it easily portable, allowed for intimate appreciation when held in the hand. Despite its small scale, the artwork reveals meticulous attention to detail, inviting close examination of its intricate elements.