Who painted The Daoist Immortal Han Xiangzi?

The Daoist Immortal Han Xiangzi was painted by Liu Jun in 1490-01-01.

Where can I see The Daoist Immortal Han Xiangzi?

The Daoist Immortal Han Xiangzi is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is The Daoist Immortal Han Xiangzi?

The Daoist Immortal Han Xiangzi is associated with Ming dynasty painting.

Artwork

The Daoist Immortal Han Xiangzi

Liu Jun , 1496

The Daoist Immortal Han Xiangzi is an unspecified painting by the Ming dynasty painting artist Liu Jun. It dates from 1496 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

The flute serves as the primary iconographic attribute, visually defining Han Xiangzi's legendary association with music within the Daoist tradition.

Created in 1496 by the artist Liu Jun, this portrait depicts Han Xiangzi, a figure recognized as a Daoist immortal. The work identifies its subject as a male musician, characterized by the inclusion of a flute. As a work of portraiture, the painting focuses on the individual identity of the immortal rather than a broader narrative scene.

The flute serves as the primary iconographic attribute, visually defining Han Xiangzi's legendary association with music within the Daoist tradition. The composition functions as a standalone depiction of this religious figure, emphasizing his status through the formal conventions of late fifteenth-century Chinese portraiture.

History & Provenance

The Daoist Immortal Han Xiangzi is attributed to the Chinese painter Liu Jun and dated to 1496. The work is classified as a portrait painting and was created in China. It entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it remains.

No documentary evidence of a specific commission or subsequent ownership transfers has been identified in the available sources.

Context

The 1496 painting by Liu Jun, The Daoist Immortal Han Xiangzi, is recorded as a portrait, placing it within the Ming dynasty tradition of figurative portraiture. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, it portrays a male musician holding a flute, an attribute traditionally associated with the Daoist immortal Han Xiangzi. Its classification as a portrait, creation in China, and inclusion in the Met's collection make it a representative example of Ming court painting and of the visual culture of Daoist subjects in late imperial art.

Overview

This painting, titled The Daoist Immortal Han Xiangzi, was created by Liu Jun in 1496. It presents a depiction of the legendary figure Han Xiangzi, a prominent immortal in the Daoist tradition, engaged in playing a musical instrument. The work is currently housed within the collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Technique & Style

Liu Jun renders the immortal standing confidently upon stylized, wavy clouds, suggesting his divine nature. His flowing robe is adorned with intricate swirling patterns, and a belt secures small objects. The background employs soft, golden-brown tones with subtle brushstrokes that evoke a sense of ethereal mist or smoke, contributing to the otherworldly atmosphere of the composition.