清 錢慧安 仕女圖 摺扇|Woman in a garden

Qian Huian

dated 1876 · Folding fan mounted as an album leaf; ink and color on alum paper · Asian Art

Qian Huian says this figure is "done in the style of Tang Yin" (1470–1523), but the echo is so faint as to require the inscription to call it to mind. Rather, this meticulously styled beauty with her large head, wraithlike form and delicate features is an unmistakable late 19th century romantic creature. Qian Huian’s influential style, promulgated by his many students and through his popular painting manual, led to the appearance of similar beauties on fans, calendars and painted snuff bottles, as well as in paintings. Qian Huian’sreferences to orthodox painters like Tang Yin and the literary inscriptions he frequently added to his paintings made them attractive to patrons aspiring to literati taste.

Artist

Qian Huian

Date

dated 1876

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