Summer Mountains, Qu Ding 1050
| Summer Mountains, Qu Ding ca. 1050 |
Between 900 and 1100, Chinese painters created their artworks around the form of landscapes that depicted the excellence and vastness of creation itself. It is said that the people viewing the painting are meant to associate themselves with the figures they see. This would allow you to "walk through, ramble, or dwell" in the scene that was provided. It took me quite a while to find the figures but it was a fun challenge. In Summer Mountains, the travelers are making their way towards the temple retreat, where people are sitting together enjoying the view. Above the temple, the mountains sit majestically, the highest point to man's universe. Gradually spread throughout the landscape, lush forests are permeated with mist which identifies the time as a midsummer's evening. The central mountain sits like a commanding emperor among his subjects In the upper right hand corner of the painting, the 12 columns of symbols translate to:
That is to say, it is in harmony with the material, and it is full of writing near the pond.
For example, the drops of summer mountains are often green, and the waves of Yuming Qingxia gradually increase.
The height of the habitat is a hundred feet wide and open.
The imperial title of Wuchen New Lunar New Year.
The use of texture strokes and ink wash indicates that Summer Mountains was previously associated with Yan Wengui (970-1030). He was a master working in the Yan idiom around 1050, a date confirmed by the existence of collectors' seals belonging to emperor Huizong. Although there is no record of Wengui composing any artwork, three works have the title of 'Summer Scenery' by his follower Qu Ding, are listed in the emperor's catalog of paintings.
Being a painter myself, I love this piece. Once you start painting, you really learn to look at an object and create it just like nature does. You start to enjoy and appreciate every slight detail around you because you know how hard it is to replicate it.
References
(n.d.). Retrieved October 25, 2020, from http://www.arthistoryarchive.com/arthistory/asian/Chinese-Landscape-Painting.html
(n.d.). Retrieved October 25, 2020, from http://www.davidrumsey.com/amica/amico756355-104644.html
(n.d.). Retrieved October 25, 2020, from https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/39915
Summer Mountains. (n.d.). Retrieved October 25, 2020, from http://www.chinaonlinemuseum.com/painting-qu-ding-summer-mountains.php
I'd love to be able to see these mountains in person one day, it's hard to believe understand what formed those mountains knowing what the mountain ranges look like near my home. Thank you for the description on how the viewer is intended to consider the artwork itself. It seems that all different cultures have norms on how to view their media.
ReplyDeleteI liked this post a lot it was cool to learn about, and how the viewer is suppose to look at this painting. What you said about the mountains, was really cool, about how majestic they are and how they are the highest point in our universe. I also though what you said about the center mountain, was interesting having that symbolize an emperor and his power.
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