image of many figures in open architecture; central figure is a bald man wearing a white robe, seated at a desk looking out toward the viewer and a garden; architecture is surrounded by a cloudy mist; a bamboo grove grows to the left of the image and two pine trees grow on the right; image is followed on the scroll by many feet of rows of Chinese characters

Portrait of Wang Shimin, late 17th century

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The revered early-Qing painter and literatus Wang Shimin is portrayed in the very center of this painting in the main hall of his chambers, surrounded by the hardwood furniture and scholarly accoutrements of his station. While Wang seems to dominate the scene here, there are several women also depicted in the painting—some off in a chamber to the upper right, obscured from view; others seem to be working in the kitchen, while another appears to be a nanny, watching a child. This is a typical portrayal of the family of a scholar-official, in which the male figure relaxes while the women work or are hidden away from the viewer’s eye. The architectural elements of this painting allow for the women to be physically and visually separate from the scholar.

Details
Title
Portrait of Wang Shimin
Artist Life
1606-1687
Role
Artist
Accession Number
96.68.2
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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image of many figures in open architecture; central figure is a bald man wearing a white robe, seated at a desk looking out toward the viewer and a garden; architecture is surrounded by a cloudy mist; a bamboo grove grows to the left of the image and two pine trees grow on the right; image is followed on the scroll by many feet of rows of Chinese characters