Album leaf, c. 1875
Qian Hui'anexpand_more
Ink and color on paperexpand_more
The Friends of Bruce Dayton Art Acquisition Fundexpand_more 2013.13.4
Not on Viewexpand_more
For this leaf, the artist shows a boat just as its oarsman poles it into view. An old gentleman sits in the prow, gazing into the distance. His hat is of a kind associated with Su Shi, a renowned Northern Song poet and statesman and also a popular theme of Chinese painting, but it would probably be a mistake to think that the leaf illustrates any particular poem by the poet. Rather, the Su Shi reference turns the passenger into an emblem of poetic sensibility. It is a painting of so-called yuyin (“reclusion in a fishing boat”), a theme concerning eremitism rather than fishing. Those seen on boats are not fishermen but scholar-recluses who are escaping an official career, fame and other social burdens.
Details
- Title
- Album leaf
- Artist Life
- 1833 - 1911
- Role
- Artist
- Accession Number
- 2013.13.4
- Curator Approved
This record has been reviewed by our curatorial staff but may be incomplete. These records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.
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