Who painted Album of Miscellaneous Subjects, Leaf 9?

Album of Miscellaneous Subjects, Leaf 9 was painted by Fan Qi in 1654.

Where can I see Album of Miscellaneous Subjects, Leaf 9?

Album of Miscellaneous Subjects, Leaf 9 is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

What movement is Album of Miscellaneous Subjects, Leaf 9?

Album of Miscellaneous Subjects, Leaf 9 is associated with Baroque.

Artwork

Album of Miscellaneous Subjects, Leaf 9

Fan Qi , 1654

Album of Miscellaneous Subjects, Leaf 9 is an unspecified painting by the Baroque artist Fan Qi. It dates from 1654 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

The poem asks: if people acted the same way, wouldn’t the world be full of talent?

You see a small ink painting of two old, gnarled trees leaning into the sunset. A few crows perch on the branches or circle above them.

The artist wrote a poem next to the trees. It says the crows feed their young first—like good parents. The poem asks: if people acted the same way, wouldn’t the world be full of talent? The trees and birds feel quiet, almost like a lesson.

To see more paintings like this, look up china, qing dynasty (1644-1911).

Overview

Album of Miscellaneous Subjects, Leaf 9 is a Qing Dynasty ink painting depicting a serene natural scene of two gnarled trees at sunset, accompanied by perched and circling crows, alongside an accompanying poem by the artist Zhou Yi.

Subject & Meaning

The painting illustrates a symbolic moment of crows resting in ancient trees at dusk. The adjacent poem highlights the 'filial crow,' emphasizing their selfless behavior of feeding their young first, drawing a moral parallel: if humans emulated this trait, talent would abound.

Technique & Style

Executed in ink, the piece showcases traditional Chinese landscape and bird-and-flower (yinshi) painting techniques, characterized by expressive brushwork and nuanced tonal values, conveying a sense of tranquility.

History & Provenance

Created during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), the artwork is part of a larger album. Specific details on its provenance and the artist Zhou Yi's broader oeuvre are not provided in the available information.

Context

This work reflects the Qing Dynasty's artistic emphasis on nature and moral allegory. The combination of painting and poetry is typical of Chinese literati art, where works often conveyed ethical messages through subtle, natural imagery.