Where can I see Miniature Album with Figures and Landscape (Old Man on Donkey)?

Miniature Album with Figures and Landscape (Old Man on Donkey) is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

What movement is Miniature Album with Figures and Landscape (Old Man on Donkey)?

Miniature Album with Figures and Landscape (Old Man on Donkey) is associated with Qing dynasty painting.

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Museum-quality prints of Miniature Album with Figures and Landscape (Old Man on Donkey) are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Miniature Album with Figures and Landscape (Old Man on Donkey)

Zeng Yandong , 1822

Miniature Album with Figures and Landscape (Old Man on Donkey) is an unspecified painting by the Qing dynasty painting artist Zeng Yandong. It dates from 1822 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Accession no.: 1975.11.l
Credit line: Cornelia Blakemore Warner Fund

About this work

Overview

Miniature Album with Figures and Landscape (Old Man on Donkey) is a small-scale painting executed in 1822 by the Chinese artist Zeng Yandong. The work is part of the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art and exemplifies a brief, lively sketch of a traveling figure within a natural setting.

Subject & Meaning

The composition centers on an elderly man perched sideways on a donkey, his hat askew and robe billowing, suggesting rapid movement. The man's expression combines fatigue with a hint of amusement, while the donkey’s blurred legs convey a trotting gait, creating a moment of kinetic humor.

Technique & Style

Rendered with swift brushwork, the painting employs loose ink lines and subtle washes that give the scene a spontaneous feel. The donkey’s tail is rendered as a short, stiff stroke, and a column of black ink on the left side appears to be a brief inscription, perhaps a poem or note accompanying the image.

History & Provenance

Created during the early nineteenth century, the piece reflects artistic practices of the Qianlong period’s later influence. It entered the Cleveland Museum of Art’s collection through acquisition, though specific details of its prior ownership are not recorded in the available sources.

Context

Zeng Yandong worked within a tradition of literati painting that valued personal expression and informal sketches. The work’s playful subject and rapid execution align with the era’s interest in capturing everyday moments and the transient qualities of travel.