Artwork
Album of Landscapes: Leaf 2
Album of Landscapes: Leaf 2 is an unspecified painting by the Chinese Orthodox School artist Wang Gai. It dates from 1689 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Technique & Style
Created in 1677, Album of Landscapes: Leaf 2 is a painting by Wang Gai that depicts a landscape genre scene.
Created in 1677, Album of Landscapes: Leaf 2 is a painting by Wang Gai that depicts a landscape genre scene. The work was produced in China and is currently held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. As a traditional Chinese painting, the piece utilizes ink and color on paper or silk, consistent with the medium and support standard for landscape works of this period and region.
The formal qualities reflect the stylistic conventions of late 17th-century Chinese landscape painting, emphasizing natural forms and compositional balance typical of the artist's active years.
History & Provenance
Album of Landscapes: Leaf 2 was created by the Chinese painter Wang Gai in 1677 as the second leaf of an album of landscape paintings. The work entered the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is recorded under accession number 1975.64.2. No further details about earlier ownership, commissions, or subsequent transfers are provided in the available sources.
Context
The work titled Album of Landscapes: Leaf 2 is a 1677 painting by Wang Gai, created in China and held in the Cleveland Museum of Art collection. It exemplifies 17th-century Chinese landscape painting traditions while reflecting Wang Gai's role in the Qing dynasty's artistic developments. The piece is contextualized within scholarly discussions of Chinese painting genres and the artist's broader oeuvre, particularly in relation to contemporary landscape works.
Overview
Created in 1689 by Chinese painter Wang Gai, this work forms the second leaf of his Album of Landscapes. Executed on paper with ink and subtle colour accents, the piece is part of the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. It exemplifies the artist’s practice of rendering natural scenes with restrained brushwork and a muted palette.
Subject & Meaning
The composition depicts a modest wooden structure perched beside a river, framed by stark, leaf‑less trees and craggy hills. A solitary figure navigates a small boat near the dwelling, suggesting quiet human activity within an otherwise desolate landscape. The overall mood conveys a sense of stillness and contemplation, inviting viewers to consider the relationship between humanity and an austere environment.
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