Artwork
Li Tieguai
Li Tieguai is an unspecified painting by the Ming dynasty painting artist Unknown. It dates from 1304 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
His face looks tired, but his breath puffs out a tiny version of himself, floating in the air.
You see a man with a wild beard, leaning on an iron crutch. His face looks tired, but his breath puffs out a tiny version of himself, floating in the air.
This is Li Tieguai, one of the Eight Immortals in Chinese folklore. The story goes that his spirit left his body while his student burned it by mistake. He had to borrow a beggar’s body—and the crutch—to come back. The floating figure shows his power to send his spirit away.
If you like this, look up more about the subject: *china, yuan dynasty (1271-1368)*.
Overview
This painting portrays Li Tieguai, one of the Eight Immortals in Chinese folklore, after his spirit inhabited a beggar's corpse following the accidental burning of his original body. The work captures a pivotal moment in his legend.
Subject & Meaning
Li Tieguai is depicted with an iron crutch, a symbol of his new form, and exhales a miniature version of himself, illustrating his immortal power to project his spirit externally. His weary expression contrasts with the vibrant display of his supernatural ability.
Technique & Style
The painting features a man with a wild beard leaning on an iron crutch, his tired face juxtaposed with a puffed breath that supports a tiny, floating self. The style is characteristic of Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) artistic tendencies.
History & Provenance
Attributed to the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368), the painting's specific artist and exact date remain unspecified in the provided context. It reflects the dynasty's cultural and mythological themes.
Context
The work is rooted in Chinese folklore, specifically the legends of the Eight Immortals. Li Tieguai's story, involving accidental rebirth into a beggar's body, is a well-known narrative within this context.
Legacy
As a representation of Li Tieguai, the painting contributes to the enduring visual and cultural legacy of the Eight Immortals in Chinese art and folklore, inviting viewers to explore further the themes of immortality and spiritual projection associated with the subject.
Artist & collection
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