Artwork
清 鄭燮 遠山煙竹圖 軸|Misty Bamboo on a Distant Mountain
清 鄭燮 遠山煙竹圖 軸|Misty Bamboo on a Distant Mountain is an ink painting by the Qing dynasty painting artist Zheng Xie. It dates from 1753 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
Created in 1753 by Zheng Xie, this hanging scroll depicts bamboo (Bambusoideae) set against a distant, misty mountain landscape.
Created in 1753 by Zheng Xie, this hanging scroll depicts bamboo (Bambusoideae) set against a distant, misty mountain landscape. As a work classified within the landscape genre, the composition focuses on the bamboo stalks emerging through atmospheric haze, a visual treatment that emphasizes the plant's resilience and elegance. While the specific iconographic program is not detailed in the available records, the subject matter aligns with the artist's known practice of using bamboo as a primary motif.
The representation of bamboo in this context typically serves as a symbolic vehicle for expressing moral integrity, flexibility, and the scholar's spirit, though the available sources confirm only the physical depiction of the plant and the mountain setting rather than explicit interpretive meanings.
Technique & Style
Created in 1753, Misty Bamboo on a Distant Mountain is executed in ink on paper, a traditional medium characteristic of Chinese literati painting. The work is presented as a hanging scroll, one of a set of four, and belongs to the landscape genre. Stylistically, the composition centers on bamboo (Bambusoideae), reflecting the artist Zheng Xie's renowned focus on this motif.
The handling of ink on paper allows for the expression of atmospheric effects, aligning with the title's suggestion of distant mountains shrouded in mist. As part of a four-scroll set, the piece demonstrates the formal integration of calligraphic brushwork with pictorial representation, typical of the Qing dynasty artistic tradition.
History & Provenance
The work was created in 1753 by the Qing dynasty artist Zheng Xie (鄭燮) in China. It consists of a set of four hanging scrolls executed in ink on paper, depicting misty bamboo on a distant mountain. According to the available sources, the painting is now part of the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art; no further details about its commission, earlier ownership, or provenance are provided in the sources.
Context
Zheng Xie painted Misty Bamboo on a Distant Mountain in 1753, a set of four hanging scrolls executed in ink on paper and classified as a landscape work. The painting depicts bamboo and was created in China before entering the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. As a Qing-era artist celebrated for his bamboo and orchid subjects, Zheng Xie contributed to the literati tradition of using bamboo to convey moral integrity and scholarly refinement.
The work exemplifies the period's synthesis of disciplined brushwork and poetic expression, positioning it within the broader tradition of Chinese literati painting.
Overview
Misty Bamboo on a Distant Mountain is a set of four ink on paper hanging scrolls created by the artist Zheng Xie in 1753. This painting exemplifies a traditional Chinese landscape, featuring bamboo amidst a serene, atmospheric setting. The work showcases the artist's approach to natural scenery through the medium of ink, characteristic of the Qing dynasty period.
Artist & collection
