Landscape (Translation)
仿李流芳山水冊頁 清晚期 吳允淶 紙本設色 (Primary Title)
Wu Yunlai, Chinese, ca.1850 - 1910 (Artist)
Wu’s Landscapes of Southern China: A master of literati painting in the late Qing dynasty, Wu Yunlai, also known as Wu Zhongyuan, was born in Qiantang (present-day Hangzhou). Trained by his mother in painting, calligraphy, and poetry, Wu producedan outstanding array of works in various mediums from landscape painting on paper or silk to painted ceramic panels. The twelve landscape paintings in this album depict the serene and reclusive scenes of southern China, a subject favored by educated elites. Stylistically these paintings illustrate Wu’s study of early masters and his creative individual style, evident in his vivid use of color and his success in poetry and calligraphy.
Landscape in Imitation of Li Tanyuan: The paintingshows a village scene with a river dominating the foreground. An empty hut sits alone on the right, while a walking bridge leads into the village on the other side of the river. The background is filled with rounded mountains built up from layers of rough “hemp strokes.” Li Tanyuan (1575–1629), also known as Li Liufan, was a well-known artist who lived during the late Ming dynasty in Jiading, today’s Shanghai.
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