Artwork
Album of Seasonal Landscapes, Leaf B (previous leaf 1)
Album of Seasonal Landscapes, Leaf B (previous leaf 1) is an unspecified painting by the Qing dynasty painting artist Xiao Yuncong. It dates from 1668 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
History & Provenance
Created by the artist Xiao Yuncong in 1668, this landscape painting is located at the institution in Cleveland.
Created in 1668 by the Chinese artist Xiao Yuncong (1596–1673), this landscape painting originated in China. The work, identified within the Cleveland Museum of Art's holdings under the accession number 1955.302.1, entered the museum's collection in 1955. While the specific circumstances of its commission and the details of its ownership prior to 1955 are not delineated in the available records, the piece is firmly dated to the year 1668. It is currently preserved and displayed at the Cleveland Museum of Art in Cleveland, Ohio.
The artwork Album of Seasonal Landscapes, Leaf B is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. Within the museum's records, the piece is identified by the accession number 1955.302.1. Created by the artist Xiao Yuncong in 1668, this landscape painting is located at the institution in Cleveland.
The available documentation confirms its status as part of the museum's holdings but does not provide specific details regarding past exhibitions or loan history.
Overview
Created in 1668 by the prominent Anhui school painter Xiao Yuncong, this leaf from the Album of Seasonal Landscapes depicts a serene mountainous vista characteristic of the artist's mature style. The composition features a winding path that guides the viewer's eye through a landscape defined by soft blues, greens, and pale pinks, all articulated through precise, ink-like lines. In the foreground, two figures on horseback traverse a narrow road beneath a tree with drooping branches and pink blossoms, suggesting a spring setting.
A small building rests on a hill in the middle distance, adding a human element to the natural grandeur. This work exemplifies Xiao Yuncong's contribution to the New Anhui School, where he revitalized traditional landscape painting by combining meticulous draftsmanship with a refined, atmospheric color palette. Produced during the early Qing dynasty, the album reflects the artist's enduring commitment to literati ideals while adapting to the changing political and cultural landscape of seventeenth-century China.
The piece stands as a testament to Xiao's ability to evoke quietude and scholarly contemplation through carefully balanced forms and subtle tonal variations.
Subject & Meaning
The composition features a tranquil mountain landscape, where a winding path leads towards a small dwelling nestled on a hillside. Two figures on horseback traverse a narrow road, passing beneath a tree adorned with delicate pink blossoms and gracefully drooping branches. A poem inscribed in the upper left corner adds a layer of literary context, common in such works, though its specific meaning is conveyed through Chinese characters.
Technique & Style
Xiao Yuncong employed a palette of soft blues, greens, and pale pinks, complemented by precise, ink-like lines that define the forms within the landscape. The artist utilized loose, sketchy brushwork, particularly for the trees and water, which imparts a sense of subtle motion and vitality to the otherwise still scene. This approach contributes to the painting's overall atmospheric quality and visual texture.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Album of Seasonal Landscapes, Leaf D (previous leaf 2)
Album of Seasonal Landscapes, Leaf C (previous leaf 6)
Album of Seasonal Landscapes, Leaf A (previous leaf 4)- Album of Seasonal Landscapes, Leaf H (previous leaf 8)
Album of Seasonal Landscapes, Leaf G (previous leaf 7)
Album of Seasonal Landscapes, Leaf F (previous leaf 5)
Album of Seasonal Landscapes, Leaf E (previous leaf 3)
清 蕭雲從 山水圖 冊|Landscapes
