清 劉德六 松鼠葡萄 扇面|Squirrel and Grape

Liu Deliu

dated 1868 · Folding fan mounted as an album leaf; ink and color on alum paper · Asian Art

Liu Deliu's fan painted in a narrow inky range of colors portrays a squirrel precariously suspended between his goal, a succulent grape, and his curiosity about the intentions of an insect that has lighted on this object. The liveliness of this subject has obvious charm. In his inscription Liu says he is working in the style of Lu Shouping (Lu Zhi, 1496–1576), a Ming artist renowned for his sensitive observations transposed into ink sketches of flowers and birds. Using animation, subtle color and a decorative format, Liu transforms a subject of interest to scholar-artists since the Yuan into a popular image.

Artist

Liu Deliu

Date

dated 1868

Medium

Folding fan mounted as an album leaf; ink and color on alum paper

Culture

China

Department

Asian Art

Credit line

Gift of Robert Hatfield Ellsworth, in memory of La Ferne Hatfield Ellsworth, 1986