Artwork
名繪集珍 冊 宋李迪春潮帶雨
名繪集珍 冊 宋李迪春潮帶雨 is an unspecified painting by Li Di. It is held in the collection of the National Palace Museum. A silk painting from the Song period portrays a powerful sea scene dominated by a towering wave.
About this work
Overview
A silk painting from the Song period portrays a powerful sea scene dominated by a towering wave. Rendered in varying tones of gray and white, the composition emphasizes the cresting foam and the deep shadows within the trough, creating a vivid impression of motion and mass.
Subject & Meaning
The work focuses on a single, monumental wave, suggesting the forces of nature and the transitory quality of water. The contrast between bright spray and darker depths may allude to the balance between visibility and concealment, a theme often explored in Chinese landscape art.
Technique & Style
Executed with meticulous brushwork on silk, the artist employs chiaroscuro—strong light‑dark contrasts—to model the wave’s volume. Layered washes of gray generate subtle gradations, while sharper, lighter strokes delineate foam, enhancing the sense of three‑dimensionality on a flat surface.
History & Provenance
Attributed to the Song dynasty painter Li Dì (李迪), the piece is catalogued under the title "名繪集珍 冊 宋李迪春潮帶雨." It forms part of a collection of esteemed works compiled during the era, reflecting the period’s interest in dynamic natural subjects rendered with refined technique.
Artist & collection
