Who painted 宋蘇漢臣貨郎圖軸?

宋蘇漢臣貨郎圖軸 was painted by Su Hanchen in 1141.

Where can I see 宋蘇漢臣貨郎圖軸?

宋蘇漢臣貨郎圖軸 is held by National Palace Museum.

Artwork

宋蘇漢臣貨郎圖軸

宋蘇漢臣貨郎圖軸 is an unspecified painting by Su Hanchen. It dates from 1141 and is held in the collection of the National Palace Museum.

About this work

Overview

Created circa 1141 during the Northern Song, the hand‑scroll titled *Herd Boy* is a figure painting by Su Hanchen, a native of Bianjing who served as a Painter‑in‑Attendance for Emperor Huizong. The work is part of the National Palace Museum’s collection and exemplifies the artist’s lifelong interest in lively human scenes.

Subject & Meaning

The composition centers on a man dressed in blue‑green robes, grasping a long staff or musical implement, surrounded by a group of children at play. The figures engage in everyday activities—toy handling, interaction, and movement—conveying a snapshot of communal life and the social world of itinerant laborers.

Technique & Style

Su Hanchen employs fine, intricate brushwork to delineate each figure, rendering them with clear contours and subtle expression. A restrained palette of muted earth tones underlies the scene, while the detailed rendering of clothing folds and accessories creates a sense of kinetic energy within the orderly layout.

History & Provenance

After its creation in the Song capital, the scroll remained in imperial collections before eventually entering the National Palace Museum. Its survival reflects the high regard for Su’s figure paintings, which were documented in court records of the Huizong era.

Context

Su Hanchen’s career, largely spent in Zhejiang after his court appointment, was marked by a focus on genre scenes that highlighted ordinary people rather than aristocratic subjects. *Herd Boy* fits within this broader trend of Song artists turning attention to daily life, offering insight into contemporary social structures and aesthetic preferences.