Landscapes and poems
Miffed that his tutor ranked him below his cousin because of inferior calligraphy, Dong Qichang at the age of sixteen dedicated himself to a study of the great calligraphers of the past. By the end of the century, he had become the most influential calligrapher of his age. Although Dong championed the aesthetic of monochromatic ink styles, he indulged in decorative effects in this album, using gold flecked paper with occasional mineral colors for the paintings and choosing a satin ground for his sleek cursive script. Each of the eight leaves, except number seven, is an homage to a past master paired with excerpts from Tang-dynasty landscape poetry. Despite the broad range of styles Dong imitated, the landscapes are remarkably similar to one another and reflect Dong's own intellectual approach to painting most of all.
Artwork Details
- 明 董其昌 山水詩畫 冊
- Title: Landscapes and poems
- Artist: Dong Qichang (Chinese, 1555–1636)
- Period: Ming dynasty (1368–1644)
- Date: early 17th century
- Culture: China
- Medium: Album of eight double leaves; ink, gold, and color on gold-flecked paper and ink on satin
- Dimensions: 12 5/8 x 9 1/8 in. (32.1 x 23.2 cm)
- Classification: Paintings
- Credit Line: Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Wan-go H. C. Weng, 1989
- Object Number: 1989.372a–h
- Curatorial Department: Asian Art
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Dong Qichang
17th century or later
Dong Qichang
after 1632
Dong Qichang
Dong Qichang
Dong Qichang
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