Chinese Painting: Insects, Birds, and Animals in Paintings
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Cranes and Pines in the Kunlun Mountains (detail), By Lu Qian, Ming dynasty, 16th - 17th century
Asian Gallery (Toyokan) Room 8
April 11, 2017 (Tue) - May 14, 2017 (Sun)Paintings of plants and insects from the Yuan dynasty (1271–1368) feature symmetric compositions. Bright colors are used for plants and flowers, and insects playing among them are vividly detailed. In the Ming dynasty (1368–1644), court painters produced works of meticulously rendered flowers and birds, as well as moving animals. The works from this period are noted for diagonal compositions, similar to those often seen in paintings from the Southern Song (1127–1279), with expressively defined landscapes in the background. Shen Quan of the following Qing dynasty integrated the styles of flower-and-bird and animal paintings of the Ming together with techniques from the Northern Song (960–1127) that were used for trees, mountains, and rocks. The contrast of light and dark in his painting presents a strong uniqueness. Constant studies of the classics and the pursuit for novel artistic expression led, to rich development.
Current exhibit includes:
Cranes and Pines in the Kunlun Mountains, By Lu Qian, Ming dynasty, 16th - 17th century
Insects and Flowers, Artist unknown, Yuan dynasty, 14th century (Important Cultural Property)
Lions, By Zhou Quan (dates unknown), Ming dynasty, 16th century
Deer and Cranes, By Shen Nanpin, Qing dynasty, dated 1739 (Gift of Mr. Yamazaki Tatsuo)
Flowers and Birds of the Four Seasons, By Wang Gang, Qing dynasty, 18th century (Gift of Mr. Ichikawa Santei)