Who painted 明阮祖德老婦像軸|Portrait of an Old Lady?

明阮祖德老婦像軸|Portrait of an Old Lady was painted by Ruan Zude in dated "xinyou" (1561 or 1621?).

Where can I see 明阮祖德老婦像軸|Portrait of an Old Lady?

明阮祖德老婦像軸|Portrait of an Old Lady is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is 明阮祖德老婦像軸|Portrait of an Old Lady?

明阮祖德老婦像軸|Portrait of an Old Lady is associated with Ming dynasty painting.

Artwork

明阮祖德老婦像軸|Portrait of an Old Lady

Ruan Zude , 1561

明阮祖德老婦像軸|Portrait of an Old Lady is an ink painting by the Ming dynasty painting artist Ruan Zude. It dates from 1561 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

Technique & Style

The application of both ink and color suggests a layered technique where structural outlines are established before the addition of chromatic details.

Executed in 1561, this hanging scroll portrait uses ink and mineral pigments applied to a silk support. The work measures approximately 156.8 cm in height and 96.2 cm in width. As a formal depiction of an elderly woman, the piece employs traditional Chinese portrait conventions, combining linear ink definition with colored washes to render the subject's features and attire.

The choice of silk as the ground allows for the smooth blending of colors characteristic of Ming dynasty figural painting, while the vertical format emphasizes the full-length or three-quarter presentation of the sitter. The application of both ink and color suggests a layered technique where structural outlines are established before the addition of chromatic details.

History & Provenance

Created in 1561 by the artist Ruan Zude, this hanging scroll portrait of an elderly woman was produced in China. The work, executed in ink and color on silk, currently resides in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. While the specific circumstances of its commission and the details of its ownership chain prior to entering the museum are not detailed in the available records, the piece is dated to the mid-sixteenth century based on its inception year. The artwork measures approximately 156.8 cm in height and 96.2 cm in width.

Overview

This hanging scroll, titled Portrait of an Old Lady, was created by the artist Ruan Zude. Executed in ink and color on silk, the work presents a depiction of an elderly woman. While the exact year of its creation is recorded as 1561, this date is derived from an old Chinese calendar system, introducing a degree of imprecision to its precise chronology.

Subject & Meaning

The painting features an elderly woman clad in a dark robe, her face marked by numerous deep wrinkles that convey her advanced age. She holds a small fan, a common accessory. The identity of the sitter remains uncertain; it is not known whether the portrait captures a specific individual or represents a more generalized concept of old age and the passage of time.

Context

Portrait of an Old Lady offers insight into the tradition of depicting women in Chinese painting. As a hanging scroll on silk, it aligns with common formats and materials used for portraiture during the Ming dynasty. Comparing this work with other contemporaneous Chinese portraits of women can illuminate prevailing artistic conventions and stylistic approaches to representing female subjects in this period.