Artwork
清 詩午閑人 瀟湘八景詩畫 冊|Eight Landscape Scenes and Calligraphy
清 詩午閑人 瀟湘八景詩畫 冊|Eight Landscape Scenes and Calligraphy is an ink painting. It dates from 1849 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This album, titled Eight Landscape Scenes and Calligraphy, comprises twenty-two delicate leaves executed in ink and wash on paper.
About this work
Technique & Style
Brushstrokes employ layered washes to render mist-shrouded mountains and water, while subtle tonal gradations create a lyrical atmosphere.
The work is presented as an album of twenty-two leaves, each painted in ink and wash on paper, a format typical of Qing-era albums. The support consists of thin, unlined paper that accommodates both delicate brushwork and accompanying calligraphic verses. Brushstrokes employ layered washes to render mist-shrouded mountains and water, while subtle tonal gradations create a lyrical atmosphere.
Compositionally, eight distinct landscape scenes are arranged sequentially, each paired with a short poem, reflecting the shanshui tradition of integrating poetry and painting. The anonymous hand demonstrates fine control of line and ink density, producing a harmonious balance between image and text. The album's dimensions, recorded as 34.9 × 24.4 cm, confirm its modest scale suitable for intimate viewing.
History & Provenance
The album of twenty-two leaves titled Eight Landscape Scenes and Calligraphy, dated 1849, is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. While the artist remains unidentified, the work is classified within the museum's holdings as a landscape painting executed in ink and wash on paper. The album measures 34.9 cm in height and 24.4 cm in width.
The provided sources confirm the institution's possession of the piece but do not list a specific accession or inventory number, nor do they record any exhibition history for this work.
Overview
This album, titled Eight Landscape Scenes and Calligraphy, comprises twenty-two delicate leaves executed in ink and wash on paper. Each page presents a distinct mountain vista, accompanied by small, handwritten calligraphy. The work combines visual art with poetic text, typical of traditional Chinese album painting. Its intimate scale and sequential presentation invite close contemplation of both image and inscription.
Subject & Meaning
The album features a series of eight distinct landscape compositions, each depicting a mountain scene rendered with ink and subtle washes. Adjacent to these visual elements, tiny calligraphic inscriptions appear, akin to a poet's personal reflections or annotations. This pairing of image and text creates a dialogue, inviting viewers to engage with both the depicted natural world and the accompanying literary expression.
Artist & collection
