Artwork
Mt. Wuzhan
Mt. Wuzhan is an unspecified painting by the Renaissance artist Song Xu. It dates from 1588 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. Mt.
- Accession no.
- 1998.78.3
About this work
Overview
Mt. Wuzhan is a 16th-century ink painting from an album of local scenery depicting sites around Lake Tai, specifically in the vicinity of Changxing and Wuxing counties (now Huzhou). The work is attributed to Song Xu.
Subject & Meaning
The painting portrays Mount Wu near Jiaxing, featuring soft hills, a riverbank path, and tiny figures engaging with the landscape. The scene reflects the artist's familiarity with the region, likely gained through travel by boat.
Technique & Style
Executed in ink, the painting's style is characterized by delicate, suggestive brushwork, capturing the serene natural beauty of the subject. Inscriptions provide gazetteer-like details about the depicted location.
History & Provenance
Created in the context of a 16th-century trend of illustrated travel books in the lower Yangzi delta, this album leaf was likely produced for commemorative, navigational, or 'armchair travel' purposes. Its provenance leads to the Cleveland Museum of Art.
Context
The work emerges from a cultural phenomenon where visits to historic and scenic sites inspired the production of printed and painted topographical depictions, catering to the interest in local geography and travel experiences.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
