Artwork
楊貴妃図 (Yō Kihi zu)|Yang Guifei
楊貴妃図 (Yō Kihi zu)|Yang Guifei is an ink painting. It dates from 1749 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Yang Guifei (楊貴妃図) is an ink and color painting on paper that depicts a woman in a flowing red robe standing beneath a tree.
- Accession no.
- 18.146.5
- Credit line
- Rogers Fund, 1918
About this work
Subject & Meaning
Its subject is a woman, as recorded in the catalogue, and the composition reflects the genre of portraiture that emphasizes elegance and courtly allure.
The painting titled 楊貴妃図 (Yō Kihi zu) portrays the legendary Chinese beauty Yang Guifei, a favorite consort of the Tang dynasty emperor. Rendered in ink and color on paper in 1749, the work is classified as a portrait and was produced in Japan. Its subject is a woman, as recorded in the catalogue, and the composition reflects the genre of portraiture that emphasizes elegance and courtly allure.
The piece, now held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, measures 18.7 cm by 16.8 cm and exemplifies a stylized representation of a celebrated historical figure.
Technique & Style
The painting employs ink and color on paper, a common support for Japanese figural works of the mid-eighteenth century. Its small scale (18.7 cm × 16.8 cm) suggests intimate display or album use. The handling favors delicate linework and flat areas of color, with minimal shading, aligning with the orthodox conventions of ukiyo-e portraiture of the Kanbun era.
Formal qualities include a frontal pose and symmetrical arrangement of the sitter’s features, underscoring the subject’s elevated status. The restrained palette and careful delineation of costume details reflect the conservative aesthetics typical of anonymous studio practice rather than the bolder innovations associated with later ukiyo-e masters.
History & Provenance
The work titled Yō Kihi zu, also known as Yang Guifei, was produced in 1749 in Japan as an ink and colored paper portrait. The artist remains unidentified. According to the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s catalogue, the piece entered the museum’s collection, indicating its current ownership by that institution; no earlier owners are recorded.
The dating is based on the work’s documented inception year of 1749, and its dimensions measure approximately 18.7 cm by 16.8 cm. The composition depicts a woman, aligning with its classification as a portrait painting.
Overview
Yang Guifei (楊貴妃図) is an ink and color painting on paper that depicts a woman in a flowing red robe standing beneath a tree. The figure’s head is turned slightly away, her hair piled high, with a solitary flower near her shoulder. The composition conveys a tranquil, almost reverie-like atmosphere, characteristic of the work’s delicate execution.
Artist & collection
