Grandeur, abundance, panache
Awe and pleasure – large landscapes (some in small formats)
WU Li taught YUN Shouping 惲壽平 (1633-1690), and while the latter worked with similar themes, his manner is more contained. Yun was an able artist in the literati mode but he painted for his livelihood, unctuous to please his patrons.
These album leaves are working sketches in which Yun elaborates approaches to conventional themes while also making use of observation. Possibly painted in the course of travel, some of these include impressions of specific landscapes, including notes on sound and weather.
On other leaves, Yun reflects on the style of historic masters and considers how to interpret a landscape 'through their eyes.' His choices are from the canon, and he works through a set of variations to be expected from a professional who also wanted to give a nod to the intellectual foundations of his practice.
The leaves are in several sizes and formats; the album feels like a scrapbook. Yun himself may not have collected these stray paintings together (the mounting is certainly later) but they seem to have been painted with an awareness of their collectability. The calligraphic notes are written with a flourish, as though the artist knows someone will be looking over his shoulder.
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| Album of 12 leaves Ink or ink and color on paper 24 x 31.5 cm Private collection |