Artwork
明 莫是龍 書畫 卷|Landscape
明 莫是龍 書畫 卷|Landscape is an ink painting by the Chinese Orthodox School artist Mo Shilong. It is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
You see a long, narrow scroll of mountains, mist, and tiny trees in black ink with soft green and brown washes.
The date on it says 1577, but experts think it’s actually from the early 1900s. That mismatch makes it interesting, someone later tried to pass it off as older, maybe to sell it for more.
To see how real Ming landscapes look, search landscape painting.
Technique & Style
While attributes the piece to the artist Mo Shilong, catalogues it as an anonymous work in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection (1,2).
The work is a handscroll executed in ink and color on paper (1). Its support is paper, and it dates to 1917, with dimensions of approximately 21.1 cm in height and 81 cm in width (2). It is classified as a landscape painting, a genre noted in both sources (1,2).
While attributes the piece to the artist Mo Shilong, catalogues it as an anonymous work in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection (1,2). The sources do not provide information on the painting’s current condition or detailed handling of the brushwork.
Context
The handscroll titled 明 莫是龍 書畫 卷, dated 1917, is a landscape painting executed in ink and color on paper. Classified as a landscape genre, it was produced in China. The work is held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art under accession number 1989.363.89 and is described as a landscape painting in the museum’s catalogue.
Its creation in the early twentieth century places it within the evolution of Chinese landscape art, reflecting continuity with traditional handscroll formats while engaging contemporary artistic trends.
Overview
This handscroll, titled Landscape, is attributed to the Ming dynasty artist Mo Shilong. Executed in ink and color on paper, it presents a traditional Chinese landscape composition. While the scroll bears a date of 1577, art historical analysis suggests it was likely created in the early 20th century. This discrepancy in dating is a notable aspect of the work's history.
History & Provenance
Although the scroll itself carries the date 1577, indicating a Ming dynasty origin, expert examination has determined its actual creation to be in the early 1900s. This deliberate misdating suggests an intention to present the work as a product of an earlier, more historically significant period, potentially to enhance its perceived value or authenticity within the art market.
Artist & collection
