Artwork

明 佚名 傳文伯仁 山水圖 卷|Landscape

明   佚名   傳文伯仁   山水圖   卷|Landscape, by Wen Boren, ink, 1558
明   佚名   傳文伯仁   山水圖   卷|Landscape, by Wen Boren, ink, 1558

明 佚名 傳文伯仁 山水圖 卷|Landscape is an ink painting by the Ming dynasty painting artist Wen Boren. It dates from 1558 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

A long, narrow handscroll of misty mountains, trees, and tiny houses tucked into folds of rock. The ink is so light it looks like breath on paper. Some peaks are barely there, a few strokes only, while others feel solid enough to climb. Painted in 1558.

Subject & Meaning

While attributed to Wen Boren, the depiction adheres to established iconographic conventions of mountainous terrain typical of the period.

The handscroll depicts a traditional Chinese landscape featuring mountains as its central subject. Created in 1558, the work is classified within the landscape painting genre, focusing on natural scenery rather than narrative figures or specific historical events. While attributed to Wen Boren, the depiction adheres to established iconographic conventions of mountainous terrain typical of the period.

The source material identifies the primary visual elements as mountains and general landscape settings, without specifying unique symbolic narratives or allegorical meanings beyond the genre's standard representation of nature. The composition serves as a visual exploration of the natural world, consistent with the artistic priorities of mid-sixteenth-century Chinese landscape painting.

Technique & Style

Attributed to Wen Boren and dated to 1558, this landscape handscroll is executed in ink and color on paper. The work functions as a traditional Chinese handscroll, a format that dictates a horizontal, sequential viewing experience. Stylistically, the piece falls within the landscape genre, depicting mountainous terrain and natural scenery.

While the artist is identified as Wen Boren in the title, the work is also cataloged as being by an anonymous hand, reflecting the attribution complexities common in Ming dynasty art. The medium of ink and color on paper allows for the fluid brushwork and tonal variations characteristic of literati painting traditions. The Metropolitan Museum of Art holds this object in its collection, preserving the physical integrity of the paper support and the applied pigments from the mid-sixteenth century.

History & Provenance

Created in 1558 in China, this handscroll landscape is attributed to the Ming dynasty artist Wen Boren, though catalog records also list the work as by an unknown artist transmitting his style. Executed in ink and color on paper, the piece depicts mountainous scenery. The work currently resides in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is classified under paintings.

While the specific original commissioner and the detailed ownership chain prior to its museum acquisition are not outlined in the available records, the inception date and artistic attribution establish its historical context within the mid-sixteenth century.

The handscroll signed Wen Boren, dated 1558, is part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection, accession number 13.220.98, and is housed in the museum's Department of Asian Art in New York. The work is classified as a Chinese landscape painting from the Ming period. According to the available documentation, it has not been listed in published exhibition catalogs or major loan records, indicating that its public display history is undocumented in the cited sources.

Overview

This handscroll, traditionally attributed to the Ming dynasty painter Wen Boren, depicts a serene mountain landscape. Created in 1558, the work exemplifies the period's approach to nature scenes, rendered with ink and subtle color on paper. It invites viewers to journey through a panorama of peaks and valleys, characteristic of Chinese landscape painting.

Context

Created during the Ming dynasty, this handscroll reflects a common format for paintings in China during the mid-16th century. Such scrolls were designed to be unrolled gradually, offering an intimate viewing experience as they were passed among connoisseurs and friends. This method of presentation fostered a personal engagement with the artwork, allowing for a contemplative appreciation of the depicted landscape.

明/清   佚名   舊傳董源   山水圖   卷|Landscape
明/清 佚名 舊傳董源 山水圖 卷|Landscape, Dong Yuan

Artist & collection

Frequently asked questions

Who painted 明 佚名 傳文伯仁 山水圖 卷|Landscape?

明 佚名 傳文伯仁 山水圖 卷|Landscape was painted by Wen Boren in dated 1558.

Where can I see 明 佚名 傳文伯仁 山水圖 卷|Landscape?

明 佚名 傳文伯仁 山水圖 卷|Landscape is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is 明 佚名 傳文伯仁 山水圖 卷|Landscape?

明 佚名 傳文伯仁 山水圖 卷|Landscape is associated with Ming dynasty painting.