Fish and Water Weeds

Object Details

• Artist

  Formerly attributed to Zhu Zhanji, Emperor Xuande (1399-1435, reigned 1426-1435)

• Label

  Playful fish in flora-filled water became a popular subject for Chinese painters when the cultivation of rare fish came into vogue in twelfth century. In this "painting of life subject" (xiesheng), the artist creates an underwater translucency with his skillful handling of ink wash and pale colors, depicting minnows, catfish, shrimp, and carps swimming among plants. The sense of spontaneity and freedom of movement reflect the artist's keen observation of aquatic life.

• Provenance

  To 1911

  Li Wenqing (circa 1869-1931), Shanghai to 1911 [1]

  From 1911 to 1919

  Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919), purchased from Li Wenqing in 1911 [2]

  From 1920

  Freer Gallery of Art, gift of Charles Lang Freer in 1920 [3]

  Notes:

  [1] See Original Kakemono and Makimono List, L. 777, Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives. This object exhibits seals, colophons, or inscriptions that could provide additional information regarding the object’s history; see Curatorial Remarks in the object record for further details.

  [2] See note 1.

  [3] The original deed of Charles Lang Freer's gift was signed in 1906. The collection was received in 1920 upon the completion of the Freer Gallery.

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  Looking Out, Looking In: Art in Late Imperial China (October 14, 2017 - ongoing)

  Boating on a River (February 12 to August 14, 2005)

• Previous custodian or owner

  Li Wenqing 李文卿 (ca. 1869-1931) (C.L. Freer source)

  Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919)

• Origin

  China

• Credit Line

  Gift of Charles Lang Freer

• Type

  Painting

• Restrictions and Rights

  CC0 - Creative Commons (CC0 1.0)

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1640s, 1300s

• Name

  Freer, Charles Lang, Li, Wenqing

• Place

  China

• Topic

  Water, Charles Lang Freer collection, Art, Chinese Art, Fishes, Ming dynasty (1368 - 1644)

• Culture

  Chinese

• Object Type

  Paintings