Artwork Page for Old Pine Tree

Details / Information for Old Pine Tree

Old Pine Tree

畫松圖

late 1530s

Wen Zhengming 文徵明

(Chinese, 1470–1559)
Culture
China, Ming dynasty (1368–1644)
Medium
handscroll; ink on paper
Measurements
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.)
Credit Line
Andrew R. and Martha Holden Jennings Fund 1964.43
Public Domain
You can copy, modify, and distribute this work, all without asking permission. Learn more about CMA's Open Access Initiative.
Location
Not on view
Print

Description

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."
A handscroll features black ink on paper depicting a gnarled pine tree stretching horizontally from the left. Varied gray and black ink washes define the scaly, weathered trunk, while dense clusters of thin, radiating lines form needles. Along the left edge are vertical columns of black calligraphy and small red stamps (see "Inscriptions"). Additional red stamps appear along the top edge and far right against the pale, unpainted paper background.

Old Pine Tree

late 1530s

Wen Zhengming

(Chinese, 1470–1559)
China, Ming dynasty (1368–1644)

See Also

Visually Similar by AI

Contact Us

The information about this object, including provenance, may not be currently accurate. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please fill out the appropriate request form linked below:

Update or Correct Artwork Information

Imagery or Rights for Non-Open-Access Artworks

Report a Website Issue

Further Questions About This Artwork