A Lady
1598-1652
Chen Hongshou, a master of the late Ming Dynasty, had a knack for painting women who looked like they stepped right out of a dream—or perhaps a slightly stylized history book. Here, a graceful lady bows deeply, her elaborate hairstyle adorned with chrysanthemums, wearing flowing robes that seem to ripple with a life of their own. Unlike the ultra-realistic portraits of his peers, Chen preferred a quirky, elongated aesthetic that gave his figures an almost otherworldly elegance. He was quite the rebel in the art world, often drinking heavily and painting with a wild freedom that made his work instantly recognizable even centuries later.
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