Landscape after Guo Zhongshu, by Bada Shanren, c. 1680–1705
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Landscape after Guo Zhongshu

Bada Shanren (Chinese, 1626–1705)

c. 1680–1705

Medium
Hanging scroll; ink on paper
Classification
Painting
Dimensions
Painting: 109.9 x 56.4 cm (43 1/4 x 22 3/16 in.); Overall with knobs: 247.7 x 84.5 cm (97 1/2 x 33 1/4 in.)
Culture
China, Qing dynasty (1644–1911)
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art, Chinese Art
Credit line
John L. Severance Fund
Rights
Public domain (CC0), as the museum states it.
Who can see it
Little Ones profiles and older: it shows gentle subjects for the very young. How works are placed

View at the Cleveland Museum of Art

About this work

Similar to some calligraphers of his time, Zhu Da rejected conventions in favor of an individual, personal expression. He is known for ambiguous compositions of fish, flowers, birds, and rocks in contrasting ink tonality. As a member of the Ming imperial family, Zhu lost his princely status and hid in a monastery when the Manchus, foreigners from the north, established the Qing dynasty in 1644.

In this late work, mountain ranges are rendered in diverse and dense strokes rising toward the top of the scroll. It references the artist Dong Qichang (1555–1636) in concept. Yet the cursory brushwork and composition present Zhu’s personal style.