Mantises Fighting on Bamboo
In his youth, Wang Xuetao studied with two masters, Qi Baishi (1864–1957) and Wang Yun (1887–1934). While he maintained a long friendship with Qi, Wang Yun's emphasis on gathering visual memories had a more profound impact on his art. In this painting, the lively poses of the mantises, the complexity of their forms, and the vivid suggestion of movement, which could not have been captured
through sketching alone, reflect the artist's recreation from memory of a dramatic confrontation that he observed in his garden.
The mantis is the only common species of insect that can stand upright on its two hind legs, bend its waist forward and backward, and turn its head 180 degrees. Such anthropomorphic traits are essential to Wang's representation of insects. This scene, for example, readily brings to mind a fistfight. Confounding realism, however, Wang endows these green mantises with red eyes. His subjective use of color spices the otherwise cool palette of the picture and creates a visual resonance between the central image and the seals on either side.
through sketching alone, reflect the artist's recreation from memory of a dramatic confrontation that he observed in his garden.
The mantis is the only common species of insect that can stand upright on its two hind legs, bend its waist forward and backward, and turn its head 180 degrees. Such anthropomorphic traits are essential to Wang's representation of insects. This scene, for example, readily brings to mind a fistfight. Confounding realism, however, Wang endows these green mantises with red eyes. His subjective use of color spices the otherwise cool palette of the picture and creates a visual resonance between the central image and the seals on either side.
Artwork Details
- 現代 王雪濤 螳螂墨竹圖 冊頁
- Title: Mantises Fighting on Bamboo
- Artist: Wang Xuetao (Chinese, 1903–1982)
- Date: 20th century
- Culture: China
- Medium: Album leaf; ink and color on paper
- Dimensions: Image: 13 3/8 x 17 5/8 in. (34 x 44.8 cm)
Overall with rollers: 53 1/8 x 26 9/16 in. (135 x 67.5 cm) - Classification: Paintings
- Credit Line: The Lin Yutang Family Collection, Gift of Richard M. Lai, Jill Lai Miller, and Larry C. Lai, in memory of Taiyi Lin Lai, 2005
- Object Number: 2005.509.30
- Curatorial Department: Asian Art
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Wang Xuetao
Dated 1941
Wang Xuetao
dated 1979
Wang Xuetao
1938
Wang Xuetao
dated 1926
China
Stele: Song dynasty (960–1279), 960–68; rubbing: 20th century
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