Who painted Album of Seasonal Landscapes, Leaf A (previous leaf 4)?

Album of Seasonal Landscapes, Leaf A (previous leaf 4) was painted by Xiao Yuncong in 1668.

Where can I see Album of Seasonal Landscapes, Leaf A (previous leaf 4)?

Album of Seasonal Landscapes, Leaf A (previous leaf 4) is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

What movement is Album of Seasonal Landscapes, Leaf A (previous leaf 4)?

Album of Seasonal Landscapes, Leaf A (previous leaf 4) is associated with Baroque.

Artwork

Album of Seasonal Landscapes, Leaf A (previous leaf 4)

Xiao Yuncong , 1668

Album of Seasonal Landscapes, Leaf A (previous leaf 4) 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

Overview

The work is a single leaf from a bound album of miniature landscapes, each depicting a distinct season in the Jiangnan region of southern China. Executed in delicate, muted tones, the scene presents hills and waterways rendered with a light, atmospheric quality that suggests early morning mist.

Subject & Meaning

The composition illustrates a seasonal view of the fertile, water‑rich terrain surrounding Nanjing and Yangzhou, areas the artist traversed repeatedly. By portraying the same locale across the four seasons, the leaf reflects the passage of time and the artist’s close observation of nature’s subtle transformations.

Technique & Style

Painted by Xiao Yuncong, the image combines brushwork reminiscent of woodblock print design with soft washes of pale green and faint blue. The lines are precise yet fluid, giving the impression of a sketch that has been carefully inked, while the overall palette anticipates the lighter coloration later associated with the Shanghai school.

History & Provenance

The album originally belonged to Li Yufen of Yangzhou before passing into the collection of Wu Hufan in Shanghai. Xiao’s personal seal appears beneath his poetic inscriptions at the top of the leaf, whereas the red seals in the margins and lower corners are later impressions added by these subsequent owners.

Context

Created during the Qing dynasty, the leaf reflects a broader tradition of literati painters who combined travel experience with scholarly poetry. Xiao’s dual role as a landscape painter and print designer informs the work’s balanced composition and meticulous line work, situating it within the regional visual culture of Jiangnan.