Artwork
Narcissus
Narcissus is an unspecified painting by the Ming Painting artist Wang Guxiang. It dates from 1534 and is held in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.
About this work
Overview
Narcissus is a hand fan painting created by Wang Guxiang in 1534. It is part of the Art Institute of Chicago's collection.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts the mythological figure Narcissus through simple ink drawings of flowers, likely narcissus, with six petals each, amidst tall grass on a plain light brown paper background.
Technique & Style
Executed with bold and confident lines, the work features no shading, characteristic of a traditional ink drawing style. The curved shape of the hand fan adds a unique dimension to the composition.
Context
Hand fans like this one were used in daily life, serving a practical purpose while also providing a surface for artistic expression.
Artist & collection
Artist
Wang Guxiang (Wang Ku-hsiang, traditional: 王谷祥, simplified: 王谷祥); ca. 1501–1568 was a Chinese landscape painter during the Ming dynasty (1368–1644). Wang was born in Changzhou in the Jiangsu province. His style name was…
