Artwork
明/清 佚名 舊傳趙芾 乘蓮渡江 冊頁|Sage Floating on Lotus Leaf
明/清 佚名 舊傳趙芾 乘蓮渡江 冊頁|Sage Floating on Lotus Leaf is an ink painting by the Ming dynasty painting artist After Zhao Fei. It dates from 1639 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This ink on silk album leaf, titled Sage Floating on Lotus Leaf, presents a solitary figure navigating turbulent waters.
About this work
Overview
Its anonymous artist, working in a style associated with Zhao Fei, captures a moment of serene detachment amidst a dynamic natural environment.
This ink on silk album leaf, titled Sage Floating on Lotus Leaf, presents a solitary figure navigating turbulent waters. Created during China's Ming or Qing dynasty, the painting, though small in scale, conveys a sense of expansive movement and contemplation. Its anonymous artist, working in a style associated with Zhao Fei, captures a moment of serene detachment amidst a dynamic natural environment.
Subject & Meaning
The artwork depicts a robed figure calmly poised on an oversized lotus leaf, drifting across a body of water characterized by vigorous, swirling waves. The sage's tranquil expression contrasts with the agitated surface of the water, suggesting a state of inner peace or meditative focus. Such imagery resonated with scholars of the Ming and Qing periods, who often admired themes of reclusion and spiritual transcendence from worldly concerns.
Technique & Style
Executed with ink on silk, the painting employs fine linear work to animate the scene. The artist utilizes swift, dark brushstrokes to render the choppy waves, creating a dynamic sense of movement and energy across the water's surface. Despite its modest dimensions as an album page, the composition effectively conveys a feeling of vastness, emphasizing the wind and water's powerful presence around the serene figure.
History & Provenance
Dating from the Ming or Qing dynasty, this album leaf is attributed to an anonymous artist working in the manner of Zhao Fei. While the precise creator remains unknown, the painting reflects artistic trends and thematic interests prevalent in Chinese art during the 17th century. Its format as an album leaf suggests it was intended for private contemplation, a common practice among collectors and scholars of the era.
Artist & collection
