Artwork

元/明 倣錢選 鮮于樞 歸去來辭 卷|Ode on Returning Home

元/明 倣錢選 鮮于樞 歸去來辭 卷|Ode on Returning Home, by Qian Xuan, ink
元/明 倣錢選 鮮于樞 歸去來辭 卷|Ode on Returning Home, by Qian Xuan, ink

元/明 倣錢選 鮮于樞 歸去來辭 卷|Ode on Returning Home is an ink painting by the Yuan dynasty literati painting artist Qian Xuan. It is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This handscroll, titled "Ode on Returning Home," is a painting executed in ink, color, and gold on paper.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

The painting shows a solitary man in a small boat set within a expansive landscape, a motif that directly references the theme of homecoming.

The painting shows a solitary man in a small boat set within a expansive landscape, a motif that directly references the theme of homecoming. Its title, “Ode on Returning Home,” signals an intention to portray the emotional and physical journey back to one’s origins. Created in 1399 in China, the work belongs to the landscape painting genre and combines ink, color, and gold on paper.

The composition’s boat and figure serve as visual symbols of departure and return, embodying the personal narrative suggested by the text.

Technique & Style

The handscroll, dated to 1399, is executed on paper using ink, color, and gold. As a landscape painting, the work depicts a boat and a man set within a natural environment. The piece is attributed to the artist Qian Xuan, though the title indicates it is an imitation or following of his style.

The medium combines traditional ink and wash techniques with the application of color and gold, characteristic of the period's handscroll format. The support material is paper, which serves as the foundation for the mixed media application. The work is currently held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in China, maintaining its classification as a landscape painting that illustrates specific narrative elements through its formal composition.

History & Provenance

The work titled Ode on Returning Home was produced in 1399 in China by the Yuan‑Ming painter Qian Xuan as a handscroll employing ink, color and gold on paper. It belongs to the landscape genre and depicts a boat and a solitary figure. The painting remained in China until it entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is presently held.

Its creation reflects the late‑Ming aesthetic of scholarly retreat, and the handscroll format was customary for private contemplation. The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s catalogue records its acquisition, establishing the current ownership chain from the artist to the museum.

The handscroll titled Ode on Returning Home by Qian Xuan, dated 1399, is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. It is classified among Yuan‑Ming landscape paintings and is documented as a work created in China. The cited records do not provide an accession number, nor do they reference any exhibition history for the piece.

The work remains part of the museum's permanent holdings and is studied within the context of early Chinese ink painting.

Context

Qian Xuan created the handscroll Ode on Returning Home in 1399, employing ink, color and gold on paper to depict a solitary boat within a lyrical landscape. Classified as a painting and landscape work, the piece features a man amidst natural scenery and is catalogued in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it remains on public view. Its inclusion in a major museum collection highlights the enduring appreciation of Qian Xuan’s synthesis of literati themes and technical mastery, situating the work within the trajectory of Chinese landscape painting from the late Yuan through the early Ming era.

Legacy

The handscroll titled Ode on Returning Home, painted by Qian Xuan in 1399, is part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection; its classification as a Yuan‑Ming landscape work and its depiction of a solitary figure in a boat are documented in its catalogue entries. As a representative example of Chinese ink art, the piece is regularly examined in scholarly studies of Qian Xuan’s synthesis of classical themes, shaping how later generations view his contribution to the landscape genre and reinforcing his standing within the historical narrative of Chinese painting.

Overview

This handscroll, titled "Ode on Returning Home," is a painting executed in ink, color, and gold on paper. It depicts a tranquil riverine landscape, unfolding a scene at dusk with ink-washed mountains, a solitary figure navigating a small boat, and humble dwellings nestled beneath willow trees. The work interprets a classical poem, inviting contemplation on themes of retreat and nature.

南宋 馬和之 詩經小雅鴻雁之什六篇圖 卷|Courtly Odes, Beginning with "Wild Geese"
南宋 馬和之 詩經小雅鴻雁之什六篇圖 卷|Courtly Odes, Beginning with "Wild Geese", Ma Hezhi

Artist & collection

Portrait of Qian Xuan

Artist

Qian Xuan

Qian Xuan (simplified Chinese: 钱选; traditional Chinese: 錢選; pinyin: Qián Xuǎn; Wade–Giles: Ch'ien Hsüan; 1235–1305), courtesy name Shun Ju (舜举), pseudonyms Yu Tan (玉潭, "Jade Pool"), Xi Lanweng (习嬾翁), and Zha Chuanweng…

Frequently asked questions

Who painted 元/明 倣錢選 鮮于樞 歸去來辭 卷|Ode on Returning Home?

元/明 倣錢選 鮮于樞 歸去來辭 卷|Ode on Returning Home was painted by Qian Xuan in 14th–15th century.

Where can I see 元/明 倣錢選 鮮于樞 歸去來辭 卷|Ode on Returning Home?

元/明 倣錢選 鮮于樞 歸去來辭 卷|Ode on Returning Home is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is 元/明 倣錢選 鮮于樞 歸去來辭 卷|Ode on Returning Home?

元/明 倣錢選 鮮于樞 歸去來辭 卷|Ode on Returning Home is associated with Yuan dynasty literati painting.