Artwork

明/清楊昇(僞款) 關山小雪圖冊頁|Light Snow on the Mountain Pass

明/清楊昇(僞款) 關山小雪圖冊頁|Light Snow on the Mountain Pass is an ink painting. It dates from 1639 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This album leaf, titled Light Snow on the Mountain Pass, is a Chinese painting from the Ming or Qing dynasty.

About this work

Overview

This album leaf, titled Light Snow on the Mountain Pass, is a Chinese painting from the Ming or Qing dynasty.

This album leaf, titled Light Snow on the Mountain Pass, is a Chinese painting from the Ming or Qing dynasty. Executed with ink and color on silk, it depicts a tranquil landscape. The work is attributed with a false signature to Yang Sheng, a detail that speaks to its complex history and the practice of artistic attribution in historical Chinese art. It is currently housed at The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Subject & Meaning

The painting portrays a quiet mountain pass blanketed in light snow, featuring sparse trees and rugged rock formations. The composition evokes a sense of profound stillness and serenity. This type of winter landscape, often characterized by its understated beauty and atmospheric perspective, was a recurring theme in Chinese painting, inviting contemplation and a connection with nature's subdued grandeur.

Technique & Style

Rendered on a small silk album leaf, the artist employed ink and subtle colors to capture the delicate effects of a snowy scene. The brushwork is characterized by its simplicity, contributing to the overall calm and understated aesthetic. This approach emphasizes the natural forms and atmospheric qualities, creating a harmonious and contemplative visual experience typical of refined landscape painting traditions.

History & Provenance

This painting carries a "false signature" (僞款) of Yang Sheng, indicating it was either misattributed or intentionally signed by a later artist to evoke the style or prestige of the earlier master. Such practices were not uncommon in Chinese art history. The artwork is part of the collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it contributes to the understanding of historical Chinese painting and its complex attributions.