Pine, Plum, and Fungus of Immortality

Object Details

• Artist

  Zhang Daqian 張大千 (China, 1899-1983)

• Label

  This painting, one of Chang Dai-chien's earliest known dated works, reveals a surprising versatility in the brushwork of an artist not yet twenty-five years old. Its style reveals allusions to earlier masters. In his inscription, Chang Dai-chien mentions two sources: the painters Huang Quan (ca. 903-965) and Shen Zhou (1427-1509). Actually, the roster of influences is broader and includes Chang's teachers, Zeng Xi (1861-1930) and Li Ruiqing (1867-1920). For the technique of representing rocks, Chang was influenced by Li Shan (active 1711-1762), who often painted "from the inside out." He first swiped pale ink on the paper and before it was dry, added the contour strokes that blended with the interior wash, and then brushed color over the rocks.

  The unusual coloring of the plum tree and the decorative quality of the painting reflect Chang Dai-chien's admiration for antique Chinese kesi or weft-woven tapestries. Weavers created compositions on the loom that featured blocks of bright, unmodulated colors outlined by black; often the weavers' color choices were unrealistic. Such effects may have inspired Chang to try color combinations not used by other artists. Chang studied textile dying and commercial weaving as a young man between 1917 and 1919, and this had a strong impact on his later career as a painter.

• Collection

  National Museum of Asian Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  Plum Blossoms, Chrysanthemums, and Bamboo (July 30 to December 4, 2011)

  Challenging the Past: The Paintings of Chang Dai-Chien (November 21, 1991 to April 5, 1992)

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

• Origin

  China

• Credit Line

  Purchase — Smithsonian Unrestricted Trust Funds

• Type

  Painting

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1920s

• Name

  Zhang, Daqian

• Place

  China

• Topic

  Pine tree, Art, Chinese Art, Fungus-of-immortality, Modern period (1912 - present), Plum blossom

• Culture

  Chinese

• Object Type

  Paintings