The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of April 15, 2026

A vertically oriented woodblock print and digital lithograph in meticulous linework depicts Yan Wenliang, an older man with light skin. He turns slightly to our right against a solid black background. Dense, golden-brown parallel lines and hatching define the deep wrinkles of his face. His eyes are dark and downcast, his mouth set straight. Wispy hairs crown his head, while the rhythmic pattern creates a highly textured, sculptural appearance.

Master Series, Portrait of Yan Wenliang (1893-1988)

2017

Liu Jing

(Chinese, b. 1983)
China, Hunan province, Changsha
Woodblock print and digital lithographic image
Image: 90 x 60 cm (35 7/16 x 23 5/8 in.); Paper: 120 x 60 cm (47 1/4 x 23 5/8 in.)
Severance and Greta Millikin Trust 2018.205.1
© Liu Jing
Location: Not on view

Did You Know?

Yan Wenliang was regarded as one of the fathers of Chinese oil painting.

Description

This portrait of oil painter Yan Wenliang (1893–1988) is from Master Series, featuring leading men of culture in modern China. All of them came under attack during the Cultural Revolution. The award-winning prints combine photography with digital design and oil-based ink woodcut techniques.
  • 2017-18
    Collection of the artist, Changsha, China, 2017-18
    2018
    (The Muban Educational Trust, London, UK, 2018, sold to the Cleveland Museum of Art)
    2018-
    The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH, 2018-present
  • Spotlight on a New Generation: Contemporary Chinese Artists. The Cleveland Museum of Art (organizer) (February 6-November 1, 2020).
    Facing the Ancestors: Chinese Portraits and Figure Painting – Chinese Gallery Rotation 240a, 241c. The Cleveland Museum of Art (organizer) (August 12, 2019-February 2, 2020).
  • {{cite web|title=Master Series, Portrait of Yan Wenliang (1893-1988)|url=false|author=Liu Jing|year=2017|access-date=15 April 2026|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/2018.205.1