Artwork

明 佚名 倣唐寅 溪山雪徑 扇|Winter Landscape

明   佚名   倣唐寅   溪山雪徑   扇|Winter Landscape, by Tang Yin, ink, 1506
明   佚名   倣唐寅   溪山雪徑   扇|Winter Landscape, by Tang Yin, ink, 1506

明 佚名 倣唐寅 溪山雪徑 扇|Winter Landscape is an ink painting by the Ming dynasty painting artist Tang Yin. It dates from 1506 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

The composition depicts snow-covered mountain terrain, with the rugged topography and seasonal atmosphere characteristic of Chinese winter landscape traditions.

This folding fan painting presents a winter mountain landscape, executed in ink and color on gold-flecked paper. The composition depicts snow-covered mountain terrain, with the rugged topography and seasonal atmosphere characteristic of Chinese winter landscape traditions. The work is attributed as an anonymous Ming dynasty imitation after Tang Yin, a leading figure of the Wu School whose original paintings of similar wintry scenery were widely copied.

By adopting Tang Yin's manner, the anonymous artist engaged with the established iconography of the snow landscape, a subject that in Chinese painting carries associations of purity, stillness, and the contemplative withdrawal of literati culture. The fan format further shaped the subject's meaning, presenting an intimate, portable vision of nature suited to personal reflection rather than monumental display.

Technique & Style

The work is a folding fan that functions as an album leaf, painted in ink with subtle polychrome accents on gold-flecked paper. Its support is paper, and the fan measures roughly 18.4 × 51.1 cm, a size recorded in the museum catalogue. Executed in China around 1506, it portrays a winter mountain scene, employing the restrained brushwork and muted tonal range typical of late Ming academic landscape painting. The composition balances sparse brushstrokes with delicate color washes to evoke atmospheric depth.

History & Provenance

The work entered the Metropolitan Museum of Art as part of the Rogers Fund in 1913, accession number 13.100.53. Its prior ownership chain is not documented in the museum's records, and no commission history or original recipient is recorded. Stylistic comparison places its creation around 1506, consistent with its attribution to an anonymous Ming-dynasty artist imitating Tang Yin.

The work, also cataloged as Ming, Anonymous, Imitating Tang Yin, Winter Path by a Stream and Mountain, is described as a folding fan mounted as an album leaf and is classified as a landscape painting. While the records confirm its current location and inventory details within the museum, the available sources do not contain specific information regarding a history of exhibitions for this object.

Overview

This painting, titled Winter Landscape, is an anonymous work from the Ming Dynasty, created in the style of the renowned artist Tang Yin. Rendered with ink and color on gold-flecked paper, it was originally part of a folding fan before being mounted as an album leaf. The composition presents a serene winter scene, featuring snow-covered mountains, sparse trees, and a winding path, all enveloped in a tranquil atmosphere.

Context

This piece exemplifies the rich tradition of landscape painting within Chinese art, particularly during the Ming Dynasty. Such works often served as objects of personal reflection and appreciation, designed to transport the viewer to an idealized natural setting. The genre frequently explored themes of harmony between humanity and nature, though here, the focus remains solely on the natural world's inherent beauty and tranquility.

明/清 佚名 倣文徴明 山水 扇|Landscape
明/清 佚名 倣文徴明 山水 扇|Landscape, Wen Zhengming

Artist & collection

Portrait of Tang Yin

Artist

Tang Yin

Tang Yin (Chinese: 唐寅; pinyin: Táng Yín; Cantonese Yale: Tong Yan; 6 March 1470 – 7 January 1524), courtesy name Bohu (伯虎) and Ziwei (子畏), was a Chinese painter, calligrapher, and poet of the Ming dynasty period.

Frequently asked questions

Who painted 明 佚名 倣唐寅 溪山雪徑 扇|Winter Landscape?

明 佚名 倣唐寅 溪山雪徑 扇|Winter Landscape was painted by Tang Yin in 1506.

Where can I see 明 佚名 倣唐寅 溪山雪徑 扇|Winter Landscape?

明 佚名 倣唐寅 溪山雪徑 扇|Winter Landscape is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is 明 佚名 倣唐寅 溪山雪徑 扇|Winter Landscape?

明 佚名 倣唐寅 溪山雪徑 扇|Winter Landscape is associated with Ming dynasty painting.