Artwork

Album of Landscape Paintings Illustrating Old Poems: Boy Holding a Horse

Album of Landscape Paintings Illustrating Old Poems: Boy Holding a Horse is an unspecified painting by the Baroque artist Hua Yan. It dates from 1745 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

This painting is part of an album by Hua Yan, a member of the Eight Eccentrics of Yangzhou, a group known for challenging traditional painting conventions.

Subject & Meaning

The work depicts a boy in simple attire standing beside a white horse, set against a backdrop of misty mountains fading into a pale sky. The boy appears larger than the horse, suggesting a possible emphasis on the human figure.

Technique & Style

Hua Yan's style is characterized by a departure from orthodox painting rules, reflecting the innovative spirit of the Eight Eccentrics of Yangzhou. The misty mountains and pale sky create a serene atmosphere.

History & Provenance

The painting is part of the Cleveland Museum of Art's collection, allowing viewers to examine it up close.

Artist & collection

Artist

Hua Yan

Hua Yan simplified Chinese: 华嵒; traditional Chinese: 華嵒; pinyin: Huà Yán; Wade–Giles: Hua Yen; courtesy name Qiu Yue (秋岳), sobriquets Xinluo Shanren (新罗山人), Dong Yuan Sheng (东园生), Buyi Sheng (布衣生), Ligou Jushi (离垢居士)and…