Chengguan Album 10
Step into a quiet scholar's retreat with this open album leaf, a beautiful example of traditional Chinese painting from the late Ming dynasty. Lan Ying, a master who brilliantly blended professional techniques with literati elegance, uses scratchy, dry brushstrokes to give the towering rock face a fantastic, craggy texture. Nestled at the bottom right, tiny cottages hide among sparse trees, inviting the viewer into a world of peaceful isolation. The swirling calligraphy on the left page creates a perfect dialogue with the image, balancing the composition in a style that was the gold standard for artists of his time.
- Technique
- Ink wash
- Material
- Paper