Reminiscences of Nanjing: Washing the Inkstone

Object Details

• Artist

  Shitao (1642-1707)

  Zhang Daqian 張大千 (China, 1899-1983)

• Label

  The theme of this painting is reminiscence of the artist's life in Nanjing, where he lived as a Buddhist monk for many years. As monk in charge of a large temple from 1680 to 1687, Shitao used his profound artistic talents to attract scholars as visitors. Such is the memory encapsulated in this image, wherein figures wash an inkstone, an act that refers to painting and writing calligraphy. Shitao inscribed the image with a poem.

  The saturated colors and bold brushwork of this painting exemplify Shitao's highly individual style. The pine trees with teethlike needle clumps reveal his exceptional talent to create seemingly naive images that are in fact visually rich and varied, such as the round fullness of each tiny ink stroke here. In the spirit of Daoist philosophy, which considers the semblance of clumsiness to be a great skill, Shitao perfected a fresh, unpremeditated approach to art that profoundly influenced later Chinese painting.

• Provenance

  To?

  Zhang Daqian (1899-1983). [1]

  To 1987

  Dr. Arthur M. Sackler (1913-1987), New York. [2]

  From 1987

  Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, gift of Dr. Arthur M. Sackler, New York. [3]

  Notes:

  [1] See object record.

  [2] See note 1.

  [3] See note 1.

• Collection

  Arthur M. Sackler Collection

• Exhibition History

  Les trois reves du mandarin (October 22, 2009 to February 14, 2010)

  The Arts of China (November 18, 1990 to September 7, 2014)

  Pavilions and Immortal Mountains: Chinese Decorative Art and Paintings (September 28, 1987 to February 28, 1988)

  Rarities of Chinese Painting in the Arthur M. Sackler Collections (December 8, 1973 to June 29, 1986)

• Previous custodian or owner

  Zhang Daqian 張大千 (China, 1899-1983)

  Dr. Arthur M. Sackler (1913-1987)

• Origin

  Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province, China

• Credit Line

  Gift of Arthur M. Sackler

• Type

  Painting

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1700s

• Name

  Sackler, Arthur M., Zhang, Daqian

• Place

  Jiangsu Province, China, Yangzhou

• Topic

  Art, Chinese Art, Qing dynasty (1644 - 1911)

• Culture

  Chinese

• Object Type

  Paintings