Who painted 明宋懋晉樓居圖扇|Dwelling in Landscape?

明宋懋晉樓居圖扇|Dwelling in Landscape was painted by Song Maojin in 17th century.

Where can I see 明宋懋晉樓居圖扇|Dwelling in Landscape?

明宋懋晉樓居圖扇|Dwelling in Landscape is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is 明宋懋晉樓居圖扇|Dwelling in Landscape?

明宋懋晉樓居圖扇|Dwelling in Landscape is associated with Baroque.

Artwork

明宋懋晉樓居圖扇|Dwelling in Landscape

Song Maojin , 1506

明宋懋晉樓居圖扇|Dwelling in Landscape is an ink painting by the Baroque artist Song Maojin. It dates from 1506 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Accession no.: 13.100.61
Credit line: John Stewart Kennedy Fund, 1913

About this work

Subject & Meaning

The painting presents a solitary tree rendered in ink and color on a gold‑paper fan leaf, a motif that in Chinese landscape tradition often signifies endurance, scholarly retreat, and a connection to the natural world. The tree’s sturdy trunk and sprawling branches serve as visual metaphors for stability and the pursuit of virtuous solitude, while the fan format suggests a portable, contemplative viewing experience. Together, these elements convey a harmonious balance between human aspiration and the timeless rhythms of nature, reflecting the cultural values of the early 16th‑century Ming period.

Technique & Style

It belongs to the landscape genre and is housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, having been made in China.

The work is executed as a folding fan that has been mounted as an album leaf, with a gold‑paper support. Ink and mineral pigments are applied in delicate brushstrokes to render a sparse landscape dominated by trees, a typical Ming‑dynasty fan‑painting approach that exploits the reflective ground to create luminosity. The painting measures approximately 15.9 cm in height and 46.4 cm in width, and is dated to 1506.

It belongs to the landscape genre and is housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, having been made in China. The refined, restrained handling reflects the literati aesthetic of early Ming court and professional artists.

History & Provenance

The folding‑fan album leaf titled 清宋懋晉《樓居圖》 (Dwelling in Landscape) is recorded in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is listed as part of the museum's holdings of Chinese landscape paintings. The entry notes its creation in 1506 in China, with dimensions of 15.9 × 46.4 cm, but does not disclose an accession or inventory number in the available documentation. No exhibition records are cited in the supplied sources, indicating that the work’s public display history is not documented within these references.

Overview

This painting, titled Dwelling in Landscape, is attributed to the Ming dynasty artist Song Maojin and dates to 1506. Originally a folding fan, it is now presented as an album leaf. The work employs ink and delicate colors on a gold paper surface, depicting a serene natural scene.

It exemplifies the quiet contemplation often found in traditional Chinese landscape painting, inviting viewers into a miniature world.