Five Horses - Main Painting 3
Li Gonglin captures the quiet dignity of a tribute horse in this section of his famous 'Five Horses' scroll. The sturdy white steed, with its dark mane and tail, stands beside a bearded groom dressed in the exotic attire of the Western Regions, hinting at the vast trade networks of the Song Dynasty. The artist used a technique called 'baimiao'—pure, uncolored line drawing—to define the horse's powerful muscles with incredible precision. The crowded red seals on the right are imperial collector's chops, showing that Emperor Qianlong was a huge fan who couldn't stop stamping his approval on this masterpiece.
- Technique
- Ink line drawing (Baimiao)
- Material
- Paper
Location: Tokyo National Museum
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