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Old Pine Tree
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Here the natural appearance of a gnarled and vine-entangled pine has been transformed into a rhythmic abstraction of brushstrokes and ink tonalities, with unifying opposites—opening and closing, rising and falling—that provide the design across the horizontal scroll. The artist's inscription reads: "The force of change beyond restraint; / The dragon's whiskers are likened to a forest of spears."
| Artist / Maker | Wen Zhengming |
|---|---|
| Date | late 1530s |
| Culture / Origin | China, Ming dynasty (1368–1644) |
| Medium | handscroll; ink on paper |
| Dimensions | Painting: 28 x 139.3 cm (11 x 54 13/16 in.); Overall: 29.3 x 596.9 cm (11 9/16 x 235 in.) |
| Department | Chinese Art |
| Type | Painting |
About the Artist
Wen Zhengming (Chinese, 1470–1559) Full biography →
Provenance & Source
Image & data: Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 / Public Domain.
Condition
A detailed condition report and high-resolution photography are available from our specialists in advance of the sale.
Shipping & Collection
Fine-art shipping with climate control and full insurance to over 120 countries; collection by appointment.
Buying at Matchless Pieces
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