Artwork
清 佚名 仿李鱓 花果圖 冊|Plants and Vegetables
清 佚名 仿李鱓 花果圖 冊|Plants and Vegetables is an ink painting by the Baroque artist After Li Shan. It dates from 1740 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The album presents still-life depictions of flora organized across eight double leaves, rendered in ink and color on paper.
The album presents still-life depictions of flora organized across eight double leaves, rendered in ink and color on paper. The compositions center on cultivated plants and vegetables, aligning with the horticultural subject matter associated with the eighteenth-century Qing taste for naturalistic botanical imagery.
As an imitation after Li Shan, the album adapts a recognized model within the Chinese painting tradition, emphasizing the depiction of common edible plants rather than symbolic blossoms. The straightforward portrayal of vegetables and fruit underscores a documentary impulse rather than an allegorical program, aligning with didactic or decorative functions typical of Qing court-style still lifes.
History & Provenance
The album titled Plants and Vegetables was created in 1740 in China during the Qing dynasty. The work is attributed to an anonymous artist who executed the piece in the style of Li Shan, a renowned painter of the period. It consists of an album of eight double leaves rendered in ink and color on paper.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art currently holds the work in its collection, though the specific chain of ownership prior to its acquisition by the museum is not detailed in the available records. The creation history centers on this anonymous emulation of Li Shan's botanical style within the mid-eighteenth-century Chinese art context.
Overview
This album, dated 1740 and attributed to an anonymous artist working in the style of Li Shan, comprises eight double leaves executed in ink and color on paper. The work functions as a direct homage to the Qing dynasty master Li Shan, known for his expressive still-life paintings of vegetables and flowers. Each leaf depicts a distinct botanical subject, including cabbages, melons, eggplants, and gourds, rendered with a loose, vigorous brushwork characteristic of the literati tradition.
The composition avoids rigid formalism; instead, the artist employs fluid ink washes and vibrant mineral pigments to capture the organic vitality of the produce. Stems appear to bend under their own weight, and leaves curl naturally, while the controlled bleeding of ink suggests the moisture of damp soil. Created over a century after Li Shan's prime, this album demonstrates the enduring influence of his spontaneous technique on mid-eighteenth-century Chinese painting.
It serves as a study in capturing the essence of common garden vegetables with artistic flair, bridging the gap between scholarly observation and playful expression within the album format.
Technique & Style
The artist emulated Li Shan's distinctive brushwork, characterized by its loose and dynamic quality. This approach imbues each depicted vegetable with a sense of organic vitality; leaves appear to curl naturally, and stems exhibit a gentle bend. Subtle ink washes and controlled bleeding effectively suggest damp soil and the inherent freshness of the botanical subjects.
Context
This artwork is presented as a small album, a format distinct from hanging scrolls or wall paintings. Designed for personal contemplation, its eight folded pages were intended to be held and viewed intimately. This portable format allowed for a private engagement with the artwork, facilitating a close appreciation of its detailed brushwork and subtle color applications.
Artist & collection
