Who painted Album of Seasonal Landscapes, Leaf B (previous leaf 1)?

Album of Seasonal Landscapes, Leaf B (previous leaf 1) was painted by Xiao Yuncong in 1668.

Where can I see Album of Seasonal Landscapes, Leaf B (previous leaf 1)?

Album of Seasonal Landscapes, Leaf B (previous leaf 1) is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

What movement is Album of Seasonal Landscapes, Leaf B (previous leaf 1)?

Album of Seasonal Landscapes, Leaf B (previous leaf 1) is associated with Baroque.

Artwork

Album of Seasonal Landscapes, Leaf B (previous leaf 1)

Xiao Yuncong , 1668

Album of Seasonal Landscapes, Leaf B (previous leaf 1) is an unspecified painting by the Baroque artist Xiao Yuncong. It dates from 1668 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

You see a quiet river winding past misty hills, a few bare trees, and a small boat tied to the bank.

Xiao Yuncong made this as part of a set showing each season. He painted what he saw on walks near Nanjing, using soft ink washes instead of bold lines. The light colors feel like early spring air.

Look up other works from the Qing dynasty (1644–1911) to see how artists of that time showed nature.

Overview

Album of Seasonal Landscapes, Leaf B is a painting by Xiao Yuncong, part of a set depicting the four seasons. The work captures a serene early spring scene with a winding river, misty hills, sparse bare trees, and a moored small boat.

Subject & Meaning

The painting reflects Xiao's travels in the Jiangnan region, particularly near Nanjing, where he observed and painted natural landscapes. The composition conveys the tranquility of early spring, emphasizing the interplay of water, landscape, and the subtle presence of human activity.

Technique & Style

Xiao employed soft ink washes rather than bold lines, characteristic of his approach. The palette features fresh, light colors, a trait that would influence later Shanghai school paintings. The artist's background in print design subtly informs the work's composition.

History & Provenance

Originally in the collection of Li Yufen in Yangzhou, the album later belonged to Wu Hufan in Shanghai. Xiao's seal appears below his poetic inscriptions, while additional red seals on the margins and lower corners were added by previous owners.

Context

Created during the Qing dynasty (1644–1911), this work can be contextualized alongside other Qing-era nature depictions, highlighting the period's artistic approaches to landscape representation.