Conversing Midway up the Mountain in Late Autumn
Zha Jizuo (Cha Chi-tso)
Description
Inscription: “Conversing midway up the mountain in late autumn. Painted for the venerable elder Boan. Zha Jizuo.”
Two seals of the artist
Zha Jizuo, from the southeastern province of Zhejiang, was a scholar and much-sought after educator. His work, which is quite rare, reveals his deep veneration for the Yuan dynasty literati master, Huang Gongwang (1269–1354). Huang championed an aesthetic of the “bland” (as opposed to the flashy or slick) for scholar-artists, and Zha’s landscape is faithful to those values. Zha painted this work for a friend, Zhou Lianggong (1612–72), who was responsible for rescuing Zha from imprisonment by the Manchu government; Zha had been falsely accused of inciting rebellion. The two tiny figures Zha placed on a half-blocked rocky path leading up the hill could very well represent the artist and his ally.
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Zha Jizuo, from the southeastern province of Zhejiang, was a scholar and much-sought after educator. His work, which is quite rare, reveals his deep veneration for the Yuan dynasty literati master, Huang Gongwang (1269–1354). Huang championed a simple aesthetic (as opposed to the flashy or slick) for scholar-artists, and Zha’s landscape is faithful to his artistic values. Zha painted this work for a friend, Zhou Lianggong (1612–1672), who rescued Zha from imprisonment by the Manchu government after Zha had been falsely accused of inciting rebellion. The two tiny figures on a half-blocked, rocky path on the hill could very well represent the artist and his ally.
(Chinese Galley Rotation, Fall 2010)
Gallery Rotation Fall 2010
Zha Jizuo
China, 1601–1676
Conversing Midway up the Mountain in Late Autumn
Qing Period (1644–1912)
3rd quarter of 17th century
Hanging scroll, ink, and light colors on silk
Museum purchase made possible by the Margaret Watson Parker Art Collection Fund, 1974/1.94
Zha Jizuo, from the southeastern province of Zhejiang, was a scholar and much-sought after educator. His work, which is quite rare, reveals his deep veneration for the Yuan dynasty literati master, Huang Gongwang (1269–1354). Huang championed a simple aesthetic (as opposed to the flashy or slick) for scholar-artists, and Zha’s landscape is faithful to his artistic values. Zha painted this work for a friend, Zhou Lianggong (1612–1672), who rescued Zha from imprisonment by the Manchu government after Zha had been falsely accused of inciting rebellion. The two tiny figures on a half-blocked, rocky path on the hill could very well represent the artist and his ally.
Subject Matter:
Zha Jizuo, from the southeastern province of Zhejiang, was a scholar and much-sought after educator. His work, which is quite rare, reveals his deep veneration for the Yuan dynasty literati master, Huang Gongwang (1269–1354). Huang championed a simple aesthetic (as opposed to the flashy or slick) for scholar-artists, and Zha’s landscape is faithful to his artistic values. Zha painted this work for a friend, Zhou Lianggong (1612–1672), who rescued Zha from imprisonment by the Manchu government after Zha had been falsely accused of inciting rebellion. The two tiny figures on a half-blocked, rocky path on the hill could very well represent the artist and his ally.
Physical Description:
A small gathering of buildings is nestled at the bottom of a tall, rounded mountain range. Slightly above the settlement, two travelers make their way along the mountain path. A few trees crow up out of the mountains. The mountain range near the small village cuts diagonally across the picture plane, from bottom left to middle right. The top left of the image also contains mountains, taller still. Across from these on the top right is calligraphic text and two seals.
Usage Rights:
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