WANG HUI (1632-1717)

Details
WANG HUI (1632-1717)

Landscape in the style of Fan Kuan (11th century)

Hanging scroll, ink and color on silk, 60 x 30 7/8in. (152.5 x 78.5cm.)

Entitled: "Traveling in Streams and Mountains"

Signed: "Wumu Shanzhong Ren Wang Hui after the brushwork of Fan Hua yuan (Fan Kuan)"

Dated two days before Qixi, (seventh day of the seventh month) of jiwei year (1679)

Two seals of the artist: Wang Yin Hui, Shi Shi Gu

Lot Essay

Fan Kuan's "Traveling in Mountains and Streams" in the National Palace Museum in Taipei is the earliest extant signed Chinese painting. The "massive and substantial" mountains, as described by the 11th century art analyst, Guo Ruoxu, dark and heavy ink, sharp strong brushstrokes and dense composition set the criteria for the northern landscape style, which was in contrast to the softer, more open southern tradition.