Artwork

Landscape Album in Various Styles: Traveling in Autumn Mountains

Landscape Album in Various Styles: Traveling in Autumn Mountains is an unspecified painting by the Qing dynasty painting artist Zha Shibiao. It dates from 1692 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

The painting portrays a figure journeying through a mountainous autumn scene, a subject reflected in its title.

The painting portrays a figure journeying through a mountainous autumn scene, a subject reflected in its title. The composition aligns with traditional Chinese landscape conventions that use travel through nature to suggest contemplation and the passage of time, while the seasonal setting underscores themes of transience and renewal. The work was produced in China and is part of the Cleveland Museum of Art collection, confirming its provenance and classification as a landscape painting from the late 17th century.

History & Provenance

The album was created in 1692 by the Chinese painter Zha Shibiao, as indicated by the inscribed date on the work. By 1955, the album had entered the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is recorded under accession number 1955.37.6. The museum's holdings document the album as a landscape painting by Zha Shibiao, who was active during the late 17th century. No exhibition history is listed for the album in the museum's holdings documentation.

Overview

Zha Shibiao created Landscape Album in Various Styles: Traveling in Autumn Mountains in 1692. This painting depicts a natural vista, characteristic of the artist's landscape work. It is part of a larger album, suggesting a series of explorations into different artistic approaches. The artwork is presently housed in the collection of The Cleveland Museum of Art.

Technique & Style

Zha Shibiao employed a distinctive brushwork to render the scene. Loose, expressive strokes define the rugged textures of the rocks, contrasting with the delicate application used for the sparse blossoms. This approach creates a sense of immediacy and atmosphere rather than precise detail.

Red seals, possibly the artist's signature or previous collectors' marks, are visible in the corners of the composition.