Five Horses - Main Painting 2
Li Gonglin's legendary 'baimiao' style brings this scene to life using only delicate ink outlines, capturing the quiet dignity between a sturdy groom and his pale, noble steed. Created during the Song Dynasty, this piece is part of the famous 'Five Horses' scroll, which documented exotic tribute horses gifted to the emperor from the Western Regions. The calligraphy flanking the figures acts like an ancient museum label, recording the horse's age, height, and arrival date. Legend has it that Li was so skilled at capturing the spirit of horses that he eventually stopped painting them, fearing his brush was so powerful it might paint them into the underworld!
- Technique
- Ink line drawing (Baimiao)
- Material
- Paper
Location: Tokyo National Museum