Artwork
明 鄭重 搜山圖 卷|Searching the Mountains for Demons
明 鄭重 搜山圖 卷|Searching the Mountains for Demons is an ink painting by the Baroque artist Zheng Zhong. It dates from 1628 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1628 during the Ming dynasty, this hand‑scroll by Zheng Zhong presents a continuous landscape scene rendered in ink and color on paper. The composition unfolds horizontally, guiding the viewer’s eye across a series of rugged hills populated by small figures engaged in a nocturnal pursuit.
Subject & Meaning
The scroll portrays a group of men equipped with spears and torches as they ascend craggy terrain, ostensibly searching for unseen demons. Rather than depicting the climax of the hunt, the image captures the anticipatory stillness of the expedition, emphasizing the act of walking and the tension of the unseen threat.
Technique & Style
Zheng employs rapid, single‑breath brushstrokes to delineate foliage, rock, and figure, creating a sense of immediacy. Ink washes are combined with subtle color accents, while cross‑hatching adds texture to the terrain, allowing the landscape to appear both lively and atmospheric.
History & Provenance
The work originates from the late Ming period, a time when scroll painting was a favored medium for narrative and landscape art. It remains attributed to Zheng Zhong, whose name appears in historical catalogues, and it has been preserved as a paper handscroll, a format typical for such extended visual narratives.
Artist & collection
