Artwork

元 張遜 石上松花圖 軸|Rocky Landscape with Pines

元   張遜   石上松花圖   軸|Rocky Landscape with Pines, by Zhang Xun, ink, 1346
元   張遜   石上松花圖   軸|Rocky Landscape with Pines, by Zhang Xun, ink, 1346

元 張遜 石上松花圖 軸|Rocky Landscape with Pines is an ink painting by the Song dynasty landscape artist Zhang Xun. It dates from 1346 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

Executed in ink on silk, the work visually depicts rugged geological formations and pine trees, elements characteristic of the Chinese landscape painting genre.

Created in 1320 by the Yuan dynasty artist Zhang Xun, this hanging scroll presents a landscape composition centered on a mountainous environment. Executed in ink on silk, the work visually depicts rugged geological formations and pine trees, elements characteristic of the Chinese landscape painting genre. The title, translated as Rocky Landscape with Pines, explicitly identifies the primary subjects: stones or rocks and pine flora situated within a natural setting.

As a representative example of early fourteenth-century Chinese art, the piece focuses on the rendering of nature's enduring features, specifically the interplay between the solid mass of the mountains and the organic growth of the pines, without incorporating narrative figures or architectural structures in its described scope.

Technique & Style

The work is executed in ink on silk as a hanging scroll, a format customary in Chinese painting of the period. The silk support provides a smooth, flexible surface that allows the brushwork to flow with subtle gradations of tone. Zhang Xun's "Rocky Landscape with Pines" depicts a stylized mountain scene rendered in layered, attenuated strokes that emphasize verticality and atmospheric depth.

The composition is typical of 14th-century landscape painting, with sparse vegetation and a focus on the rugged rock formations. The piece is recorded in the Metropolitan Museum of Art collection and was created in China circa 1320.

History & Provenance

The hanging scroll titled Rocky Landscape with Pines was created by the Yuan dynasty artist Zhang Xun in 1320. Executed in ink on silk, the work depicts a mountainous landscape and is currently held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. While the specific commission details or the complete historical chain of ownership prior to its arrival at the museum are not detailed in the available records, the work is firmly dated to the early fourteenth century.

Its creation in China during this period establishes its place within the landscape painting tradition of the era. The piece remains a significant example of Zhang Xun's output from this specific year.

Context

Zhang Xun completed Rocky Landscape with Pines in 1320, a hanging scroll in ink on silk that belongs to the landscape genre; the composition centers on a rugged mountain scene, a motif recorded in both the artwork’s classification and the Wikidata entry. The piece is held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where its inclusion in the Chinese painting collection underscores its significance as an early Yuan example. Its creation in China and stylistic treatment of pine‑laden cliffs illustrate the technical conventions of the period and contribute to the broader narrative of Chinese landscape development.

Overview

"Rocky Landscape with Pines," created by Zhang Xun in 1346, is a significant example of Yuan dynasty ink painting. This hanging scroll, rendered exclusively in ink on silk, presents a dramatic mountain scene. The composition features towering, jagged rock formations alongside resilient, twisted pine trees, characteristic elements often found in Chinese landscape art of the period. The work exemplifies the artist's command of monochrome brushwork to evoke a powerful natural environment.

清  王原祁  為瞻亭畫七發妙劑圖  軸|Landscape for Zhanting
清 王原祁 為瞻亭畫七發妙劑圖 軸|Landscape for Zhanting, Wang Yuanqi

Artist & collection

Portrait of Zhang Xun

Artist

Zhang Xun

Zhang Xun made delicate ink landscapes on silk during China's Yuan dynasty. The hanging scroll Rocky Landscape with Pines is a quiet mountain scene, twisted pines clinging to the stones in soft brushwork and pale…

Frequently asked questions

Who painted 元 張遜 石上松花圖 軸|Rocky Landscape with Pines?

元 張遜 石上松花圖 軸|Rocky Landscape with Pines was painted by Zhang Xun in before 1346.

Where can I see 元 張遜 石上松花圖 軸|Rocky Landscape with Pines?

元 張遜 石上松花圖 軸|Rocky Landscape with Pines is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is 元 張遜 石上松花圖 軸|Rocky Landscape with Pines?

元 張遜 石上松花圖 軸|Rocky Landscape with Pines is associated with Song dynasty landscape.